Prevalence and correlates of non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt among children and adolescents: Findings from Uganda and Jamaica
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of affective disorders
Abstract
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% 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 self-report.
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.
Description
Keywords
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), Suicidal ideation (SI), Suicide attempt (SA), Youths, Developing countries
Citation
Boduszek, D., Debowska, A., Ochen, E. A., Fray, C., Nanfuka, E. K., Powell-Booth, K., ... & Mason, S. J. (2021). Prevalence and correlates of non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt among children and adolescents: Findings from Uganda and Jamaica. Journal of affective disorders, 283, 172-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.063