Sunshine and Suicide at the Tropic of Capricorn, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1996-2004

The suicide pattern was assessed in Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil, at the Tropic of Capricorn from 1996-2004. Poisson regression was employed to estimate parameters of seasonality as well as to verify associations for each day between daylight duration & suicide. During the study period, there were 3,984 suicides (76.9% in men, median age 38.7 years). Seasonal averages of suicides were similar as were monthly averages. Poisson regression did not reveal any association between suicide rates & hours of sunshine for both genders. (5 refs.)