J Korean Med Sci.  2014 Aug;29(8):1174-1177. 10.3346/jkms.2014.29.8.1174.

Trends and Risk Factors of the Epidemic of Charcoal Burning Suicide in a Recent Decade among Korean People

• Ji NJ
• Hong YP
• Stack SJ
• Lee WY

• KMID: 2129617
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2014.29.8.1174

Abstract

The aims of this study were to analyze annual trends of charcoal burning (CB) suicide, 2000 to 2011, and to examine the risk factors of CB suicide in Korea. Data on suicides (n=138,938) were obtained from the Statistics Korea. The proportion of CB suicides among all suicide deaths reported was 0.7% (84 cases) in 2007, and since 2008 it has rapidly increased to 7.9% (1,251 cases) in 2011. Of significant risk factors of CB suicide, the presence of the media report of Ahn's suicide was the greatest risk factor (adjusted odds ratio, 11.69; 95% CI, 10.30-13.23) of the initial phase of the continuing CB suicides since 2008. Korean Government should urgently consider effective measures against CB suicide, including enforced media regulations on reporting such suicides.

Keyword

Charcoal Burning; Mass Media; Suicide

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Charcoal
Child
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Mass Media/*statistics & numerical data
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Suicide/psychology/*statistics & numerical data/*trends
Young Adult
Charcoal

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Trends of the proportion of suicide method of all suicide deaths in Korea, 2000-2011.

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  Fig. 2 Trends of overall suicide rates and suicide rates by CB (age standardized using 2005 Korean Census population) and the proportion of CB suicide deaths, 2000-2011.

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