Abstract
The study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of ever suicide attempt and past 12-month suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts among persons aged 15–69 years in Eswatini. Cross-sectional nationally representative data from 3281 persons (33 years median age, range 15–69) of the 2014 Eswatini STEPS Survey were analysed. Results indicate that 3.6% of participants had attempted suicide, and 10.1% engaged in past 12-month suicidal ideation, plan and/or attempts. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, having family members who died from suicide and childhood sexual abuse were associated with ever suicide attempt. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, female sex, adult sexual abuse, threats and family member attempted suicide were associated with ever suicide attempt. In adjusted logistic regression, female sex, childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual abuse, threats, family alcohol problems and having family members who died from suicide were associated with past 12-month suicidal ideation, plan and/or attempts. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, 25–34-year-old participants, unemployed and other, childhood physical abuse, violent injury, family member attempted suicide and having had a heart attack, angina or stroke were associated with past 12-month suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts. One in ten participants were engaged in suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts in the past 12 months, and several associated factors were identified that can inform intervention programmes.
Highlights
IntroductionSuicide can be seen as a continuum, including ”suicidal behaviours: (thinking about suicide, cognitions), plans (propose methods with which to carry out suicide), and attempts (potentially self-injurious conduct with no fatal outcome that may or may not result in injury, with evidence of intentionality of causing death), as well as consummate suicide (self-inflicted death with evidence of intentionality)” [1,2]
Suicide can be seen as a continuum, including ”suicidal behaviours:, plans, and attempts, as well as consummate suicide” [1,2]
(27.7%) had experienced childhood physical abuse, 4.7% childhood sexual abuse, 3.0% adult sexual abuse, 13.1% threats in the past 12 months, 2.4% experienced a violent injury in the past 12 months, and 11.3% and 7.6% had a close family member who attempted suicide and who died from suicide, respectively
Summary
Suicide can be seen as a continuum, including ”suicidal behaviours: (thinking about suicide, cognitions), plans (propose methods with which to carry out suicide), and attempts (potentially self-injurious conduct with no fatal outcome that may or may not result in injury, with evidence of intentionality of causing death), as well as consummate suicide (self-inflicted death with evidence of intentionality)” [1,2]. With about 800,000 dying from suicide every year, and 79% occurring in low- and middle-income countries, suicide is a global public health issue [3]. Suicide prevention efforts need to build on the epidemiological profile of suicidal behaviour [4]. There is a great need to have national epidemiological population-based data on suicidal behaviour from low- and middle-income countries in Africa, such as Eswatini [4]. This study reported for the first time data on the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts from a nationally representative survey in Eswatini
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