Economic Crisis and Deaths of Despair in Brazil
Author Information
Author(s): Guimarães Raphael Mendonça, Meira Karina Cardoso, da Silva Vicente Cristiane Teixeira, de Araújo Caribé Silvania Suely, da Silva Neves Luise Bernardes, Vardiero Nicole Almeida
Primary Institution: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, National School of Public Health, Graduate Program in Public Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Hypothesis
The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the economic crisis and fiscal austerity measures on deaths of despair in Brazil.
Conclusion
The study found a significant increase in deaths of despair in Brazil after the economic stagnation, particularly affecting middle-aged, Black, and Brown populations.
Supporting Evidence
- Deaths of despair increased significantly after economic stagnation in Brazil.
- Men, middle-aged, and Black/Brown individuals are at higher risk of deaths of despair.
- The study used data from the Mortality Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics.
Takeaway
When the economy gets bad, more people in Brazil are dying from things like suicide and drug overdoses, especially among certain groups like Black and Brown people.
Methodology
The study used an interrupted time series analysis to evaluate mortality data from 2003 to 2018.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to underreporting and lack of educational data in mortality records.
Limitations
The study did not analyze educational level due to data quality issues and focused on a specific time range that may not capture all relevant trends.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed data across different age groups, sexes, and races in Brazil.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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