Daniel Boduszek1, Agata Debowska2, Eric Awich Ochen3, Christine Fray4, Esther Kalule Nanfuka3, Karyl Powell-Booth4, Florence Turyomurugyendo3, Kenisha Nelson4, Roxanne Harvey4, Dominic Willmott5, Samantha J Mason6. 1. University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK; SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: a.debowska@sheffield.ac.uk. 2. The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: a.debowska@sheffield.ac.uk. 3. Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. 4. University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica. 5. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK. 6. University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Youth non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide are major public health concerns, but limited data are available on the prevalence and correlates of these problems in developing countries. The aim of this study is to describe experiences of three suicidal phenomena (NSSI, suicidal ideation [SI], and suicide attempt [SA]) among children and adolescents from two developing countries. We also examine how depression, anxiety, sleep problems, child maltreatment, and other socio-demographic variables associate with the risk of NSSI only, SI only, SA only, and co-occurring NSSI/SI/SA. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of school-based Ugandan and Jamaican children and adolescents. Participants were 11,518 (52.4% female) Ugandan and 7,182 (60.8% female) Jamaican youths aged 9-17 years. RESULTS: The estimated lifetime prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA was 25.5%, 25.6%, and 12.8% respectively among Ugandan boys and 23.2%, 32.5%, and 15.3% respectively among Ugandan girls. As for the Jamaican sample, the estimated lifetime prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA was 21%, 27.7%, and 11.9% respectively among boys and 32.6%, 48.6%, and 24.7% respectively among girls. The odds of experiencing SI only, SA only, and co-occurring NSSI/SI/SA were significantly elevated among participants with mild, moderate, and severe depression in both countries. LIMITATIONS: The current study relied on retrospective data. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that suicidal phenomena are common among youths from Uganda and Jamaica, with rates substantially higher than among youths from high-income countries. The risk of suicidal phenomena was especially high among youths with severe depression.
BACKGROUND: Youth non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide are major public health concerns, but limited data are available on the prevalence and correlates of these problems in developing countries. The aim of this study is to describe experiences of three suicidal phenomena (NSSI, suicidal ideation [SI], and suicide attempt [SA]) among children and adolescents from two developing countries. We also examine how depression, anxiety, sleep problems, child maltreatment, and other socio-demographic variables associate with the risk of NSSI only, SI only, SA only, and co-occurring NSSI/SI/SA. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study of school-based Ugandan and Jamaican children and adolescents. Participants were 11,518 (52.4% female) Ugandan and 7,182 (60.8% female) Jamaican youths aged 9-17 years. RESULTS: The estimated lifetime prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA was 25.5%, 25.6%, and 12.8% respectively among Ugandan boys and 23.2%, 32.5%, and 15.3% respectively among Ugandan girls. As for the Jamaican sample, the estimated lifetime prevalence of NSSI, SI, and SA was 21%, 27.7%, and 11.9% respectively among boys and 32.6%, 48.6%, and 24.7% respectively among girls. The odds of experiencing SI only, SA only, and co-occurring NSSI/SI/SA were significantly elevated among participants with mild, moderate, and severe depression in both countries. LIMITATIONS: The current study relied on retrospective data. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that suicidal phenomena are common among youths from Uganda and Jamaica, with rates substantially higher than among youths from high-income countries. The risk of suicidal phenomena was especially high among youths with severe depression.
Authors: Mark Mohan Kaggwa; Sarah Maria Najjuka; Felix Bongomin; Mohammed A Mamun; Mark D Griffiths Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-10-20 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Maria Serra; Anna Presicci; Luigi Quaranta; Elvita Caputo; Mariaclara Achille; Francesco Margari; Federica Croce; Lucia Marzulli; Lucia Margari Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2022-02-04
Authors: Chengju Liao; Xingmei Gu; Jie Wang; Kuiliang Li; Xiaoxia Wang; Mengxue Zhao; Zhengzhi Feng Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-02 Impact factor: 3.390