Suicide reattempts in a Chilean border region: A retrospective case–control study of sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical risk factors

Suicide mortality is rising in Latin America, yet evidence on repeat suicidal behavior remains scarce. Chile’s national surveillance system offers a unique opportunity to study high-risk populations. This study identifies sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors associated with suicide reattempts in Arica–Parinacota, a Chilean border region with high suicide rates and significant indigenous and migrant populations. We conducted a retrospective case–control study using regional surveillance data (2017–2021). We compared individuals with multiple attempts (cases) against those with a single attempt (controls). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for reattempt, controlling for seven covariates. Among 299 individuals, six factors independently predicted reattempt: female gender (AOR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.26–4.22), unemployment (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.31–6.87), family history of suicide (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.31–5.28), psychiatric disorder (AOR = 3.92, 95% CI: 2.26–6.92), domestic violence (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.53–4.87), and psychoactive substance use (AOR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.13–3.86). Findings delineate a risk profile characterized by inter-generational suicide, gendered vulnerability, psychiatric comorbidity, and social stressors. This study demonstrates the public-health value of disaggregated, surveillance-based analytics for improving triage and targeted screening in middle-income settings.