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Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998

European Journal of Epidemiology volume 21, pages 707–713 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Suicide mortality was examined between 1970 and 1998 in a cohort of 19,801 persons categorized as indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated using the suicide rates of the rural population of Arctic Norway as reference. There was a significant moderate increased risk for suicide among indigenous Sami (SMR = 1.27, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.56). In the study period, 89 suicides occurred in the cohort (70 men and 19 women) with increased suicide mortality both for indigenous Sami males (SMR = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.99–1.61) and females (SMR = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.77–1.99). Significant increased suicide mortality was found for young Sami aged 15–24 for both males (SMR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.13–2.78) and females (SMR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.17–6.91). Significant increased suicide mortality was found for indigenous Sami males residing in Sami core area (SMR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.04–2.20) and for indigenous Sami males not belonging to semi-nomadic reindeer herding (SMR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.00–1.65). Clusters of suicides in Sami core area may explain the increased suicide mortality found in subgroups among indigenous Sami.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

SMR:

Standardized mortality ratio

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Acknowledgements

This project has been financed with the aid of EXTRA funds from the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation. The authors want to thank Bjarte Aagnes, Cancer Registry of Norway, for his computational assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Sami Health Research, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tromsø, Box 71, N-9730, Karasjok, Tromso, Norway

    A. Silviken

  2. Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute of Population-based Cancer Research, Montebello, N-0310, Oslo, Norway

    T. Haldorsen

  3. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, University Hospital of North Norway, N-9038, Tromsø, Norway

    S. Kvernmo

Authors
  1. A. Silviken
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  2. T. Haldorsen
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  3. S. Kvernmo
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Correspondence to A. Silviken.

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Silviken, A., Haldorsen, T. & Kvernmo, S. Suicide among Indigenous Sami in Arctic Norway, 1970–1998. Eur J Epidemiol 21, 707–713 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9052-7

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Keywords

  • Cause of death
  • Cluster
  • Indigenous Sami
  • Suicide