Abstract
BackgroundSuicide ideation and attempt are more highly prevalent among medical students compared to the general population. Suicidal thought negatively impacts the quality of life, physical, and mental well-being of the students. However, research into suicide ideation and attempt among medical students in low- and middle-income countries is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore suicide ideation and attempt and their determinants among medical students in Ethiopia have a crucial role for further intervention.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 393 medical students from March to June 2019 at the University of Gondar (UoG) in Ethiopia. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Suicide ideation and attempt were assessed using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess lifetime suicide ideation and attempts during medical school. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with suicide ideation and attempt. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to assess the strength of the association.ResultsA total of 393 participants took part with a response rate of 92.9%. The prevalence of suicide ideation and attempt among study participants was found to be 14% and 7.4%, respectively, with 95% CI (10.9–18.1) and (5.1–10.2). Being female (AOR: 5.21, 95% CI 3.42–7.20), co-morbid depression symptoms (AOR: 10.12, 95% CI 6.80–15.52), current khat chewing (AOR: 4.46, 95% CI 3.32–10.02), and poor social support (AOR: 4.46, 95% CI 3.43–9.87) were factors significantly associated with suicide ideation; whereas, female sex (AOR: 8.08, 95% CI 6.04–12.39), depression (AOR: 10.66, 95% CI 8.01–19.01) and history of mental illness (AOR: 5.53, 95% CI 5.20–15.50) were factors significantly associated with suicide attempt.ConclusionsIn the current study, the prevalence of suicide ideation among medical students was low compared to other studies, but the suicide attempt was high. Ministry of Health should develop a guideline on how to screen and manage suicide ideation and attempt among medical students.
Highlights
IntroductionThe rate of suicide has increased by 60% in the past 45 years, and about one million people die from suicide every year
Suicide is the act of deliberately causing one’s own death [1]
The prevalence of suicide ideation in the current study is lower than the study done among medical students in South Africa was 32.3% [21], in India, by using “Do you have thought suicide/death?” was 53.6% [34], in Turkey and Austria, students were asked five questions with dichotomous(yes/no) response format related to ever suicidal behavior were 27.3% and 37.8%, respectively [33], and in the United States of America (USA), the impact of medical school on student mental health by using three suicide questions from the inventory developed by Meehan was 29.9% [35]
Summary
The rate of suicide has increased by 60% in the past 45 years, and about one million people die from suicide every year It is the second leading cause of death among young people, and it is higher among males than females. The global prevalence of suicide ideation and attempts among 36 college students was 23.3% and 3.2%, respectively [7]. The prevalence of suicide ideation and attempt among medical students in South Africa was 32.3% and 3.2%, respectively [21]. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of suicide ideation among university students was 19.9%, but there is no study regarding suicide attempt [13]. Suicide ideation and attempt are more highly prevalent among medical students compared to the general population. This study aimed to explore suicide ideation and attempt and their determinants among medical students in Ethiopia have a crucial role for further intervention
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