Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation, Attempt, and associated factors among Adolescents in Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Subscale ideation and attempt are common among adolescent compared to general population. However, little is documented about the problem in Ethiopia. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of fiducial ideation, attempt and associated factors among adolescent in Dilla town

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was employed among 517 adolescent in Dilla town from May 01 to June 30, 2019. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered tools. Sucidality model of world mental health survey initiatives version 3.0 of the WHO composite international diagnostic interview were used. Data were entered into epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed, and binary logistic regression model was used. In multi-variable binary logistic regression, variables

having p-value < 0.05 were declared statistically significant at corresponding 95%

CI.

Result: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt among adolescents in Dilla town were 12.4% (95% CI, 9.3-14.9) and 7.2% (95% CI: 5.0-9.5), respectively. Being female, life time use of khat, and mental distress were variables statistically associated with suicidal ideation, whereas poor social support, mental distress, and current use of khat were variables associated with suicidal attempt.

Conclusion: Suicidal ideation and attempt in this study is high. Screening and identification of risky suicidal behaviors among adolescents is essential. More emphasis should be invested among females, substance users and those with emotional disturbance.