Factors associated with intentionally self-inflicted injuries in adolescents from Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

The objective was to investigate the clustering patterns of sociodemographic characteristics and the main means used in intentional self-harm in adolescents living in Mato Grosso. A descriptive study that analyzed the cases of self-harm reported by the Violence and Accident Surveillance System, specifically its component on the surveillance of interpersonal and self-inflicted violence within the Notifiable Diseases Information System, from 2011 to 2020. The relationship between the studied variables was assessed by multiple correspondence analysis. There were 1,421 reports of self-harm in adolescents, and the most used means were poisoning (51.6%), sharp objects (28.4%), and hanging (9.8%). Distinct patterns were observed: 1) male gender, self-harm occurred in public spaces, by means of sharp objects or hanging; 2) adolescents aged 10 to 14, asian race/color, who attended elementary school, self-harm occurred at school; 3) adolescents aged 15 to 19, female, black/brown or white, with high school or higher education, married or in a stable union and with a disability/disorder, which occurred at home and poisoning. Identifying patterns between the means used in intentional self-harm and the characteristics of adolescents allows planning more effective actions to prevent these events in this population.