Background: Adolescent suicide rates (ASR) are a matter of concern worldwide. Causes of this trend are not understood and could correspond to socioeconomic factors such as inequality.
Aim: To investigate sociodemographic variables related to ASR, particularly the potential association with indicators of socioeconomic inequality.
Method: Cross-sectional ecological study analyzing data from 29 health districts with univariate and multivariable multilevel Poisson models.
Results: ASR were higher in male adolescents and at increasing age. No association was found between ASR and inequality (Gini coefficient and 20/20 ratio). Analysis revealed that living in a single-parent family is associated with ASR.
Conclusions: The usual demographic patterns of adolescent suicide apply in Chile. An emerging variable of interest is single-parent family. No cross-sectional association between social inequality and ASR was found based on conflicting evidence. These results should be explored in future prospective population studies to further understand associated social factors.
Keywords: income inequality; social determinants of health; social epidemiology; youth suicide.