Trends of juvenile and adolescent suicides in North Tunisia: a 12-year study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics for suicide methods and factors over a 12-year period among child suicides in Northern Tunisia and to compare juvenile and adolescent suicides. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS: We included all child and adolescent suicide cases that took place in the North of Tunisia over a 12 year period (2005-2016). Data were collected from medical records and judicial inquiries and were classified into three sections: sociodemographic data, the circumstances of suicide, and the autopsy findings. Data were then compared between the 'juvenile suicide group' and 'the adolescent suicide group', according to the WHO definition. RESULTS: Casualties were equally males and females, mostly adolescents (74.5%), aged 15 years old on average. Hanging was the most frequent suicidal method. A peak of frequency was observed in 2014. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested to focus, among other preventive measures, on the role of media coverage of child suicides.

Deaths among homeless in northern Tunisia: a 10-year study (2005-2014).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the victims profile related to death among homeless people. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study. METHODS: We included all deaths among homeless people that occurred during a 10-year period (2005-2014) that were autopsied in the Department of Legal Medicine of the Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis. Causes of death were classified according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision. Data were classified in three sections: sociodemographic data, circumstances of death, and autopsy findings. A univariate data analysis was performed. RESULTS: The sex ratio (M/F) was of 7.45. The average age was of 59 years. The majority of deaths (80.9%) occurred in the metropolis of Tunis with a significant occurrence of cases in other governorates after the 2011 revolution (P = 0.002). Deaths occurred more often during winter (34.8%). The bodies were frequently discovered in public places (36.0%) and private locations (34.0%). The deaths of 55.3% of cases were attributed to natural causes, significantly affecting the elderly, whereas the accidental causes (25.7%) were more frequent before the age of 49 years, followed by suicides (3.9%) and homicides (3.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlighted a phenomenon not yet studied in Tunisia. Our results highlight an urgent need for preventive measures focused on the improvement of healthcare measures among homeless people.