Comparative Analysis of Suicide Frequency in the ZODES of the Department of Bolívar During 2024 and the First Semester of 2025
Keywords:
Suicide, Public health, Social determinants of health, Territorial inequalities, ZODES.Abstract
Suicide constitutes a public health problem of global scope and growing impact in Colombia. In the department of Bolívar, the territorial organization into Zonas de Desarrollo Económico y Social (ZODES, or Socioeconomic and Development Zones) provides an appropriate framework for analyzing internal differences in the occurrence of this phenomenon. The present study aims to compare the frequency of suicides between the ZODES with the highest and lowest burden during 2024 and the first semester of 2025. This article was developed under a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and comparative design. The units of analysis were the ZODES of Bolívar, and the information sources included suicide cases identified through databases published by official entities responsible for mortality registration, such as the National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Additionally, data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) were used, including records of deaths by external causes and municipal population projections.
The variables analyzed included territory (ZODES and municipality), sex, age, and educational level of the deceased individuals, as well as the methods used and the temporal distribution of the cases. Based on these indicators, the study identified the ZODES with the highest and lowest frequency of suicides, the monthly and weekly behaviors of the phenomenon, and the predominant sociodemographic characteristics of the affected population.The results show a marked concentration of cases in the Northern ZODES, particularly in Cartagena de Indias, along with a higher prevalence among adult men and the predominance of hanging as the main method. These findings reveal territorial and social inequalities that shape distinct risk scenarios and provide essential elements for designing prevention strategies tailored to local contexts, thereby strengthening the understanding of suicide as a complex and socially determined phenomenon.It is expected that this study will provide updated evidence on the territorial distribution of suicide in Bolívar, contributing to a better understanding of the phenomenon and generating inputs for future research and differentiated prevention strategies.
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