PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AND ATTEMPT AMONG PRISONERS IN SOUTH GONDAR ZONE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, NORTH WEST ETHIOPIA, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Suicide is a prominent source of injury and death around the world and it is the most cause of premature death in the prison population. Therefore, assessing suicidal ideation, attempt and associated factors among prisoners is a vital role for early prevention of suicidal thought and attempt. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners in South Gondar zone correctional centers, North West Ethiopia, 2022. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 23 to June 22, 2022 at South Gondar correctional institutions. Simple random sampling technique was used to select sample of 803 participants. The standard Composite international diagnostic interview questionnaires were used to assess suicidal ideation and attempt. Binary and multivariate logistic regression an analysis was used to identify factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt. Statistical significant was declared at 95% confidence interval (CI) of p-value ?0.05. Results: A total of 788 participants were involved with the response rate of 98.2%. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners were found to be 23.6% and 10.7%, with 95% CI (20.76, 26.70) and (8.68, 13.02), respectively. Female sex (AOR=2.38, 95% CI: 1.12, 5.05), family history of mental illness (AOR=3.09, 95% CI: 1.93, 4.88), depression (AOR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.98), poor social support (AOR=2.76, 95% CI: 1.56, 4.85) and previous incarceration (AOR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.86) were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Whereas, being single (AOR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.47, 4.54), family history of suicide (AOR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.01), depression (AOR=2.62, 95% CI: 1.59, 4.31) and previous imprisonments (AOR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.69) were factors significantly associated with suicidal attempt. Conclusions and recommendations: Suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners were high compared to the general population. Therefore, it is better to give emphasis to early detection and provide prison mental health services in order to develop mental health care, prevention, and intervention programs for incarcerated people. Keywords: Suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, Ethiopia and prison