For ease of analysis, we divide the data into two periods 1998-2000 and 2001-2004. As indicated earlier, the latter period is identified with higher male SMR in some regions.In 2001-4, Maharashtra’s age-specific SMRs are as follows. For males it is 0.9 for 5-14 years, 19.9 for 15-29 years, 34.4 for 30-44 years, 35.0 for 45-59 years and 20.5 for 60+ years whereas for females it is 1.0 for 5-14 years, 20.2 for 15-29 years, 15.1 for 30-44 years, 10.8 for 45-59 years and 5.8 for 60+ years. Across divisions, Amravati and Nagpur seem to have relatively higher SMRs and also the ones where the absolute increase in male SMRs was relatively higher. In these two divisions, excluding age group of 5-14 years, male SMRs increased in all other age groups and the increases are particularly notable in Amravati division.
In the three selected districts, age adjusted SMR increased in Wardha by 9.5 points (from 38.1 to 47.6), in Washim by 6.7 points (from 26.5 to 33.2) and in Yavatmal by 8.3 points (from 38.3 to 46.0). Notable increase in age-specific male SMRs are in the age groups of 15-29 years (by 25.3 points, from 29.9 to 55.3) and 30-44 years (by 11.1 points, from 65.0 to 76.1) in Wardha, in the age groups 45-59 years (by 30.4 points, from 36.6 to 67.0) and 60+ years (by 29.8 points, from 7.7 to 37.5) in Washim and in the age groups of 15-29 years (by 10.3 points, from 40.9 to 51.2), 30-44 years (by 13.9 points, from 62.8 to 76.7) and 45-59 years (by 13.0 points, from 67.1 to 80.1) in Yavatmal. Across age groups, SMR for males in Maharashtra was the maximum in the early middle age group of 30-44 years in 1998-2000 and shifted to the late middle age group of 45-59 years in 2001-4. This pattern seems to have been the case in the divisions of Amravati, Aurangabad, Konkan and Nagpur and also in the selected districts of Washim and Yavatmal whereas in Wardha district the shift was reversed with maximum male SMRs for 45-59 years in 1998-2000 and 30-44 years in 2001-4.
The former pattern (shift in maximum SMR from early middle age to late middle age) explains that people those who are now entering into a stage of getting their children married and are in the process of training them the tricks of the trade.The latter pattern (shift in maximum SMR from early middle age to late middle age) would indicate greater years of life lost. If he is a cultivator then his is likely to be one with less years of experience in farming. He may be willing to take greater risks expecting higher returns, but a failure can be catastrophic.
In both the time periods, SMR for females, as is the case at the all India level, is the maximum in the youth age group of 15-29 years. An exception to this is in our study district Wardha where maximum female SMR is in 30-44 years. An important feature of age-specific SMR is that among children (5-14 years) and youth (15-29 years) female SMR is greater than male SMR. This along with the fact that SMR for females is the maximum among youth (15-29 years) indicates that years of life lost among females will be proportionately more than their proportion of total suicide deaths. It is said that higher SMR for females in this age group could be an outcome of domestic conflict such as dowry harassment.23 Or, they could be because of other forms of female victimization such as suspected illicit relationship, not having children, cancellation/non-settlement of marriage, physical abuse, illegitimate pregnancy and divorce. Some of the reported female suicides could even be homicides in the guise of suicide or accident.
In the three selected districts, age adjusted SMR increased in Wardha by 9.5 points (from 38.1 to 47.6), in Washim by 6.7 points (from 26.5 to 33.2) and in Yavatmal by 8.3 points (from 38.3 to 46.0). Notable increase in age-specific male SMRs are in the age groups of 15-29 years (by 25.3 points, from 29.9 to 55.3) and 30-44 years (by 11.1 points, from 65.0 to 76.1) in Wardha, in the age groups 45-59 years (by 30.4 points, from 36.6 to 67.0) and 60+ years (by 29.8 points, from 7.7 to 37.5) in Washim and in the age groups of 15-29 years (by 10.3 points, from 40.9 to 51.2), 30-44 years (by 13.9 points, from 62.8 to 76.7) and 45-59 years (by 13.0 points, from 67.1 to 80.1) in Yavatmal. Across age groups, SMR for males in Maharashtra was the maximum in the early middle age group of 30-44 years in 1998-2000 and shifted to the late middle age group of 45-59 years in 2001-4. This pattern seems to have been the case in the divisions of Amravati, Aurangabad, Konkan and Nagpur and also in the selected districts of Washim and Yavatmal whereas in Wardha district the shift was reversed with maximum male SMRs for 45-59 years in 1998-2000 and 30-44 years in 2001-4.
The former pattern (shift in maximum SMR from early middle age to late middle age) explains that people those who are now entering into a stage of getting their children married and are in the process of training them the tricks of the trade.The latter pattern (shift in maximum SMR from early middle age to late middle age) would indicate greater years of life lost. If he is a cultivator then his is likely to be one with less years of experience in farming. He may be willing to take greater risks expecting higher returns, but a failure can be catastrophic.
In both the time periods, SMR for females, as is the case at the all India level, is the maximum in the youth age group of 15-29 years. An exception to this is in our study district Wardha where maximum female SMR is in 30-44 years. An important feature of age-specific SMR is that among children (5-14 years) and youth (15-29 years) female SMR is greater than male SMR. This along with the fact that SMR for females is the maximum among youth (15-29 years) indicates that years of life lost among females will be proportionately more than their proportion of total suicide deaths. It is said that higher SMR for females in this age group could be an outcome of domestic conflict such as dowry harassment.23 Or, they could be because of other forms of female victimization such as suspected illicit relationship, not having children, cancellation/non-settlement of marriage, physical abuse, illegitimate pregnancy and divorce. Some of the reported female suicides could even be homicides in the guise of suicide or accident.
