Prevalence and correlates of non-fatal suicidal behaviour among South Africans.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Joe S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC2701668 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Prevalence and correlates of non-fatal suicidal behaviour among South Africans.
Joe Sean S Stein Dan J DJ Seedat Soraya S Herman Allen A Williams David R DR
The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science 20080401 4
We examined nationally representative data from the 2002-2004 South Africa Stress and Health Study, a national household probability sample of 4351 persons aged 18 years and older: 9.1% of respondents reported lifetime suicide ideation, 3.8% a plan and 2.9% an attempt. Among four ethnic groups, the Coloureda group had the highest lifetime prevalence for attempts (7.1%). Those at higher risk of suicide attempts had one or more DSM-IV disorders. ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundSuicide is a serious public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the context- and gender-specific risk factors for non-fatal suicidal behaviour is the cornerstone of evidence-based public health interventions to reduce suicide. Poverty and symptoms of depression are well established risk factors for suicidal behaviour. However, little is understood about how proximal economic factors (such as losing one's job, or food insecurity) may confound the effects of symptoms of depression to increase the risk of non-fatal suicidal behaviour in vulnerable populations, such as young men living under conditions of endemic poverty. The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which a wide range of poverty-related variables account for non-fatal suicidal behaviour independent of, or in addition to, symptoms of depression among young men living in low-resource communities in South Africa (SA).MethodsData were collected from a clustered sample of 647 young men living in low-resource communities in the Western Cape province of SA. Multivariate regressions were used to identify the associations between poverty-related measures, symptoms of depression, and past-month prevalence of non-fatal suicidal behaviour.ResultsNon-fatal suicidal behaviour in the last month was reported by 47 (6.13%) participants: suicidal ideation (n?=?43; 5.97%); suicide plan (n?=?5; 0.77%); suicide attempt (n?=?4; 0.62%), and deliberate self-harm without intent to die (n?=?4; 0.62%). Past-month prevalence of non-fatal suicidal behaviour was significantly associated with particular dimensions of poverty (living in a home without a toilet on the premises, having previously been fired, and food insecurity), but not with other dimensions of poverty (such as prolonged unemployment and low levels of income). However, symptoms of depression were a more significant predictor of non-fatal suicidal behaviour than any measure of poverty (aOR=1.093, 95% CI=1.058-1.129, p?<?.000).ConclusionsDepressive symptoms are more strongly associated with non-fatal suicidal behaviour than a range of proximal and distal economic factors among young men living under conditions of endemic poverty in South Africa. This has important public health implications and highlights the importance of increasing young men's access to psychiatric services and targeting depression as an integral component of suicide prevention in low resource communities.
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Project description:BackgroundThe study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal behaviour (SB) among adults in Malawi.MethodsData were analysed from 4187 persons aged 18-69 years (median age: 32 years) that took part in the nationally representative cross-sectional "2017 Malawi STEPS survey."ResultsThe prevalence of ever suicide attempt was 0.8%, and the prevalence of SB (ideation, plan and/or attempt) in the past year was 7.9% (6.0% among men and 9.6% among women). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, among men, being 30 years and older and having an alcohol family problem were positively and obesity was negatively associated with SB in the past year. Moreover, in univariate analysis, early smoking initiation was positively and not using active transportation was negatively associated with SB in the past year. Among women, having an alcohol family problem, death from suicide of a close family member, having a cardiovascular incident (heart attack, stroke, or angina) and not using active transportation increased the odds of SB in the past year. In addition, in univariate analysis, low systolic blood pressure (< 100 mmHg), not taking antihypertensive medication, and current alcohol use were associated with past year SB.ConclusionAlmost one in ten participants engaged in SB in the past year and several associated factors were identified that can inform intervention programmes.
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Project description:BACKGROUND:It is generally known that firefighters are at increased risk of suicide. However, the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in firefighters have not been thoroughly described to date. The aim of this study was to measure the 1-year prevalence of suicidal ideation in firefighters and to investigate the correlates of past-year suicidal ideation among the demographic, occupational and clinical characteristics. METHOD:A web-based survey was conducted using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 45,698 Korean firefighters were included for analysis. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in the past year was calculated and its correlates were elucidated using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS:The 1-year prevalence of suicidal ideation was 10.66% in Korean firefighters. Recent traumatic experience, high levels of occupational stress from physical work environment and emotional labor, as well as current duty of officer were significant correlates of suicidal ideation in the previous year, even after controlling for the effects of PTSD and depressive symptoms. With respect to demographic factors, female gender and marital status of divorced/separated/widowed were identified to be associated with suicidal ideation in the previous year among firefighters. CONCLUSIONS:The 1-year prevalence of suicidal ideation was high in Korean firefighters and was associated with various occupational factors as well as psychiatric symptoms. Early detection and management of these risk factors could reduce the risk of suicidal ideation in firefighters.
| S-EPMC6937629 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundHost genetic factors may a play role in susceptibility to infection. Vitamin-D is an immunomodulator that may play a role in HIV infection. Vitamin-D action is mediated by the vitamin-D receptor. We establish prevalence of ApaI, BsmI, FokI and TaqI polymorphisms (VDRPs) amongst a black southern African HIV+ve population and investigate polymorphic differences between HIV+ve and -ve people.MethodsSeventy-nine sex and age-group matched HIV+ve patients of African origin initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 79 HIV-ve participants, also of African origin, were recruited from a public sector HIV testing and treatment clinic and investigated for the 4 polymorphisms. The genotype frequencies were compared, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the association of HIV status and each genotype were calculated. Both dominant, co-dominant, recessive and allele models were tested.ResultsWe found no evidence of difference in distribution and association between HIV infection and the genotypes of the BsmI, FokI and TaqI VDR polymorphisms. The genotype distributions were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for these genotypes. The ApaI genotype showed differences in distribution by HIV status in the dominant and co-dominant models. However this finding is cautiously stated as the ApaI genotype violated the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and frequency of the minor variant was unexpectedly low in this population.ConclusionWe do not show convincing differences in distribution of the VDR genotypes among HIV+ve and HIV-ve black southern African persons. Future studies need to be replicated in larger study populations as understanding polymorphic differences and similarities may offer insights into the different susceptibility and progression of HIV in southern African populations.
| S-EPMC4858619 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSuicidal thinking during non-fatal overdose may elevate risk for future completed suicide or intentional overdose. Long-term outcomes following an intentional non-fatal overdose may be improved through specific intervention and prevention responses beyond those designed for unintentional overdoses, yet little research has assessed suicidal intent during overdoses or defined characteristics that differentiate these events from unintentional overdoses.MethodsPatients with a history of opioid overdose (n = 274) receiving residential addiction treatment in the Midwestern United States completed self-report surveys to classify their most recent opioid overdose as unintentional, actively suicidal (wanted to die), or passively suicidal (didn't care about the risks). We characterized correlates of intent using descriptive statistics and prevalence ratios. We also examined how intent related to thoughts of self-harm at the time of addiction treatment.ResultsOf opioid overdoses, 51 % involved suicidal intent (44 % passive and 7 % active). Active suicidal intent was positively associated with hospitalization. Active/passive intent (vs. no intent, aPR: 2.2, 95 % CI: 1.4-3.5) and use of ≥5 substances (vs. 1 substance, aPR: 3.6, 95 % CI: 1.2-10.6) at the last opioid overdose were associated with having thoughts of self-harm or suicide in the 2 weeks before survey completion in adjusted models. Participants who reported active/passive intent more commonly used cocaine or crack (27 %) with opioids during their last overdose relative to unintentional overdoses (16 %).ConclusionsOver half of opioid overdoses among individuals in addiction treatment involved some degree of suicidal thinking. Identifying patients most at risk will facilitate better targeting of suicide prevention and monitoring services.
| S-EPMC7336718 | biostudies-literature