Description of suicide characteristics in Rwanda (N=162)
| Characteristic | N | Per cent |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Male | 125 | 77.8 |
| Female | 37 | 22.8 |
| Age group (years)* | ||
| <20 | 2 | 1.2 |
| 20–29 | 33 | 20.4 |
| 30–39 | 47 | 29 |
| 40–49 | 16 | 9.9 |
| 50–59 | 27 | 16.7 |
| ≥60 | 37 | 22.8 |
| Province | ||
| Kigali | 29 | 17.9 |
| Eastern | 52 | 32.1 |
| Southern | 32 | 19.8 |
| Northern | 36 | 22.2 |
| Western | 29 | 17.9 |
| Area of residence | ||
| Towns/cities | 25 | 15.4 |
| Rural | 137 | 84.6 |
| Site of death | ||
| Home | 117 | 72.3 |
| Neighborhood (village) | 29 | 17.9 |
| Away from the village of residence | 16 | 9.8 |
| Method of suicide | ||
| Hanging | 97 | 59.9 |
| Poisoning | 49 | 30.3 |
| Drowning | 9 | 5.6 |
| Other (homemade spear, gunshot and self-immolation) | 7 | 4.2 |
| Medicolegal postmortem | ||
| Performed | 136 | 84 |
| Not performed | 26 | 16 |
| Alleged motive of suicide | ||
| Family feud | 49 | 30.3 |
| Jealousy | 30 | 18.5 |
| Mental illness | 24 | 14.8 |
| Land or money dispute | 20 | 12.4 |
| Chronic disease | 12 | 7.4 |
| Other (postpartum depression, sexual impotence) | 2 | 1.2 |
| Unknown | 25 | 15.4 |
*Age at time of study. Data collection occurred approximately 18 years after the genocide.