Social Inequalities in Suicide Across Argentine Provinces: Trends Before and After COVID-19 Pandemic

BackgroundFew studies have examined social inequalities in suicide by comparing the COVID-19 pandemic with previous years. These studies, largely concentrated on high-income countries, have produced mixed results and have not included post-pandemic years in their analyses. Our objective was to analyze social inequalities in suicide across Argentine provinces during the period 2015-2023. MethodsThis is a retrospective quantitative study based on secondary data analysis. We employed Poisson regressions to model the temporal trends in suicide rates by educational level in the provinces of Jujuy, Mendoza, and San Juan from 2015 to 2023. Additionally, we calculated suicide rate ratios to examine temporal variations in relative inequalities by educational level. ResultsCompared to those with medium-high education, individuals with low education-- across sexes, men, and the 25-44 age group--had higher suicide risk in all years except 2021. During the pandemic, womens educational mortality ratios fell below 1, contrasting with pre- pandemic (2015-2019) and post-pandemic (2022-2023) periods. For men, suicide rate ratios exceeded 1 in all periods but were smaller during and after the pandemic. The 25-44 age group mirrored mens pattern, while the 45+ group showed no educational inequalities in suicide during and after the pandemic. ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic appeared to temporarily narrow the social suicide gap, though variations by sex and age were observed. This potential effect of the pandemic seemed to be short-lived, with the 2022-2023 period showing a return to pre-pandemic levels of social inequalities in suicide. Key messagesO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topicC_ST_ABSSocial inequalities in suicide exist, although the evidence in Latin America remains limited and inconclusive. What this study addsWe examined social inequalities in suicide across three periods: pre-pandemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and post-pandemic. The suicide gap between the least educated and the most educated populations tended to narrow during the pandemic years (2020-2021), with a particularly pronounced decline observed among women with low educational attainment. How might this study affect research, practice, or policyFurther in-depth studies, incorporating qualitative approaches, are necessary to confirm the potential positive impact of social policies on the well-being of women with low socioeconomic status during the COVID-19 pandemic.