The prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviours (ideation, plan and attempt) among adolescents in senior high schools in Ghana

Abstract

Suicide is recognised as the third leading cause of death among adolescents globally. There is however limited data on the prevalence and factors associated with suicide particularly in Ghana. To explore the prevalence and risk and protective factors associated with suicide in Ghana, a nationwide Global School-based Student Health Survey data collected among senior high school adolescents in Ghana was used. The prevalence of suicidal behaviours was 18.2%, 22.5% and 22.2% for suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempt respectively. In the final analysis, anxiety increases the odds of suicidal behaviour, even after controlling for other variables. Loneliness increases the odds of suicidal behaviour but after adjusting for other factors the odds remained for only suicidal plan. Being bullied, physically attacked, involved in a physical fight and food insecurity remained risk factors for suicidal behaviour (i.e. ideation, plan and attempt) after adjusting for other factors. Truancy was found as a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and plans but such effect diminished for suicidal plan after adjusting for other variables. Increasing number of close friends remained a risk factor for both suicidal plan and attempt but such effect diminished for suicidal ideation after adjusting for other variables. Parental understanding of adolescents’ problems and worries remained a significant protective factor for all the indices of suicidal behaviour after adjusting for other variables. Parental respect for privacy was protective of suicidal attempt but was not significant after adjusting for other variables. Early identification and intervention for at-risk adolescents in senior high schools, for example those experiencing different forms of physical abuse, drug and substance use and hunger can potentially reduce the prevalence of suicide among this population in Ghana.

Prevalence of suicidal behaviour among nursing and midwifery college students in Ghana

“…The overall lifetime prevalence estimates of suicide ideation (15.4%; female = 16.2%; male = 7.1%), plans (6.6%; female = 6.9%; male = 3.6%), threats (13.4%; female = 14.1%; male = 7.1%) and attempts (2.3%; female = 2.2%; male = 3.6%) and the 12-month prevalence estimate of suicide ideation (21.3%; female = 21.7%; male = 17.9%) reported in this study are generally comparable to those found in high-income countries, with more females than males reporting suicidal behaviour.. The 12-month prevalence estimate of suicide ideation found in this study (21.3%) is comparable and quite consistent with the recent prevalence estimates among senior high school students in Ghana-18.2% (Asante et al, 2017;Baiden et al, 2019). More pointedly, the findings on the prevalence estimates of suicidal behaviour in this study are consistent with the global situation as found in the meta-analysis by .…”

“…Thus far in Ghana, only three published primary studies are available on the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviour among senior high school (SHS) students (Asante et al, 2017;Baiden et al, 2019;Liu, Huang, & Liu, 2018), with no published study on the phenomenon among (nursing and midwifery) college students, although media reports are showing worrying trends of suicidal deaths among students across the country . A college in Ghana is an immediate post-senior high school level/stage of education.…”

“…In a longitudinal study of the predictors of suicidal ideation among college students, Nam, Hilimire, Jahn, Lehmann, and DeVylder (2018) reported that age, gender and sexual orientation showed no statistically significant association with suicidal ideation, whereas race/ethnicity showed significant association with suicidal ideation intensity. Also, truancy has been found as a strong correlate of suicidal behaviour among students (Asante et al, 2017).…”

“…official database or national formal statistics on the prevalence, trends and characteristics of the phenomenon in the country (Osafo, Akotia, Andoh-Arthur, & Quarshie, 2015). Although some previous studies from Ghana (Eshun, 2003;Osafo, Hjelmeland, Akotia, & Knizek, 2011) have explored the socio-cultural determinants of suicidal ideation and the attitudes of university students towards suicide, generally, primary research examining the prevalence, correlates, risks and protective factors related to suicidal behaviour among adolescents and youth in Ghana remains scant (Asante, Kugbey, Osafo, Quarshie, & Sarfo, 2017;Quarshie et al, 2015). More pointedly, primary studies with focus on the phenomenon in college nursing and midwifery students in Ghana are unavailable, although there are local media reports of suicidality among this category of students (Frimpong, 2017).…”

Gender moderates the association between polyvictimization and suicidal ideation among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates

“…Previous studies have linked suicidal ideation in adolescents to victimization (being bullied and physically attacked) (Barzilay et al, 2017;Mahfoud, Afifi, Haddad, & DeJong, 2011;Oppong Asante, Kugbey, Osafo, Quarshie, & Sarfo, 2017), psychological factors (depressive symptoms, feeling lonely and worried) (Strandheim et al, 2014;Ziaei et al, 2017;Peltzer & Pengpid, 2012), peer relations (having no close friends) (Mahfoud et al, 2011), lack of parental understanding (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2012;Mahfoud et al, 2011), and behavioral factors (cigarette smoking and missing school without permission) (Peltzer & Pengpid, 2012;Mahfoud et al, 2011).…”