Dataset Information

Self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey in the Greater Accra region.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To identify the prevalence, methods, associations and reported reasons for self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana.

Design

A cross-sectional survey. We applied multi-level regression models and model-based cluster analysis to the data.

Setting

Three contexts in the Greater Accra region were used: second cycle schools, facilities of charity organisations and street census enumeration areas (sleeping places of street-connected adolescents, street corners, quiet spots of restaurants, markets, train and bus stations, and lorry and car parks).

Participants

A regionally representative sample of 2107 (1723 in-school and 384 street-connected) adolescents aged 13-21 years.

Outcome measures

Participants responded to a structured self-report anonymous questionnaire describing their experience of self-harm and eliciting demographic information and social and personal adversities.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of self-harm was 20.2% (95% CI 19.0% to 22.0%), 12-month prevalence was 16.6% (95% CI 15.0% to 18.0%) and 1-month prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.0% to 4.0%). Self-injury alone accounted for 54.5% episodes and self-poisoning alone for 16.2% episodes, with more than one method used in 26% of episodes. Self-cutting (38.7%) was the most common form of self-injury, whereas alcohol (39.2%) and medications (27.7%) were the most commonly reported means of self-poisoning. The factors associated with self-harm were interpersonal: conflict with parents (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.87, 95%?CI 1.24 to 2.81), physical abuse victimisation (aOR=1.69, 95%?CI 1.16 to 2.47), difficulty in making and keeping friends (aOR=1.24, 95%?CI 0.85 to 1.80), sexual abuse victimisation (aOR=1.21, 95%?CI 0.78 to 1.87) and conflict between parents (aOR=1.07, 95%?CI 0.73 to 1.56).

Conclusions

Self-harm is a significant public health problem among in-school and street-connected adolescents in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Its origins are very largely in social and familial adversity, and therefore prevention and treatment measures need to be focused in these areas.

SUBMITTER: Quarshie EN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7843304 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey in the Greater Accra region.

Quarshie Emmanuel Nii-Boye EN Shuweihdi Farag F Waterman Mitch M House Allan A

BMJ open 20210126 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>To identify the prevalence, methods, associations and reported reasons for self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana.<h4>Design</h4>A cross-sectional survey. We applied multi-level regression models and model-based cluster analysis to the data.<h4>Setting</h4>Three contexts in the Greater Accra region were used: second cycle schools, facilities of charity organisations and street census enumeration areas (sleeping places of street-connected adolescent ...[more]

PMID: 33500283

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Dataset Information

Self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey in the Greater Accra region.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Self-harm among in-school and street-connected adolescents in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey in the Greater Accra region.

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