Table 2 Study characteristics of case–control studies included (n = 15)

Zhang (2004) [50]

China

66 (100 %) Public health personnel and villagers

66 (97 %) Neighbourhood

Age & sex

73

All ages

Suicide

Jia (2005) [9]

China

205 (NR) Hospital

205 (NR) Hospital and community

Age, sex & area

43

All ages

Attempted suicide

Zhang (2010) [13]

China

392 (98 %) Surveillance system

416 (97 %) Community controls

51

15-34

Suicide

Sun (2014) [46]

China

199 (91 %) Surveillance system

199 (NR) Unclear

Age, sex & residence

58

All ages

Suicide

Manoranjitham (2010) [42]

India

100 (92 %) Surveillance system

100 (100 %) Neighbourhood

Age, sex & neighbourhood

59

All ages

Suicide

Vijayakumar (1999) [49]

India

100 (81 %) Police

100 (94 %) Neighbourhood

Age, sex & neighbourhood

55

≥15

Suicide

Gururaj (2004) [8]

India

269 (NR) Police

269 (NR) Neighbourhood

Age, sex & community

64

All ages

Suicide

Sisask (2010) - A [32]

India

680 (NR) Hospital

500 (NR) Community

NR

All ages

Attempted suicide

Kulkarni (2011) [38]

India

100 (NR) NR

100 (NR) NR

Age & sex

63

All ages

Attempted suicide

Kumar (2013) [48]

India

50 (NR) Hospital

50 (NR) Community

Age, sex & marital status

44

≥18

Attempted suicide

Kurihara (2009) [11]

Indonesia

60 (94 %) Police

120 (100 %) Neighbourhood

Age & sex

NR

All ages

Suicide

Khan (2008) [10]

Pakistan

100 (NR) Police

100 (NR) Community

Age, sex & area of residence

83

All ages

Suicide

Jollant (2014) [37]

Philippines

15 (94 %) Local informants

30 (NR) Community

Age and sex

73

All ages

Suicide

Sisask (2010) - B [32]

Sri Lanka

300 (NR) Hospital

684 (NR) Community

NR

All ages

Attempted suicide

Sisask (2010) - C [32]

Vietnam

143 (NR) Hospital

2280 (NR) Community

NR

All ages

Attempted suicide