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Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Behaviour Among Adolescents in Southwest Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Olayinka Omigbodun

    (College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, fourinkas@yahoo.co.uk; omigbodun@comui.edu.ng)

  • Nisha Dogra

    (University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria)

  • Oluyomi Esan

    (The Greenwood Institute of Child Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK)

  • Babatunde Adedokun

    (University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria)

Abstract

Background: Despite being recognized by the World Health Organization as a significant social and health concern, information on suicidal behaviours in Nigerian adolescents is unknown. Aims: To establish the prevalence and associated psychosocial correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts in Nigerian youth. Methods: Stratified sampling was used to identify youth aged 10—17 years who completed the Nigeria version of the Global School Health Questionnaire (GSHQ) and the Diagnostic Predictive Scale (DPS) for youths (suicidal behaviour questions) in a classroom setting. Results: A total of 1429 youth completed the instruments. Over 20% reported suicidal ideation and approximately 12% reported that they had attempted suicide in the last year. Adolescents living in urban areas, from polygamous or disrupted families, had higher rates of suicidal behaviour. Multiple psychosocial factors such as sexual abuse, physical attack and involvement in physical fights were significant predictors of suicidal behaviour. Conclusion: Factors associated with suicidal ideation and behaviours are similar to those found in other studies but the rates of both suicidal ideation and attempts are towards the upper limit of rates for youth. This study suggests that there is an urgent need for Nigerian policymakers and health providers to review and address this issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Olayinka Omigbodun & Nisha Dogra & Oluyomi Esan & Babatunde Adedokun, 2008. "Prevalence and Correlates of Suicidal Behaviour Among Adolescents in Southwest Nigeria," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(1), pages 34-46, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:54:y:2008:i:1:p:34-46
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764007078360
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Springer, Andrew & Parcel, Guy & Baumler, Elizabeth & Ross, Michael, 2006. "Supportive social relationships and adolescent health risk behavior among secondary school students in El Salvador," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(7), pages 1628-1640, April.
    2. Dinesh Bhugra & Neil Thompson & Jayshree Singh & Elizabeth Fellow-Smith, 2003. "Inception Rates of Deliberate Self-Harm among Adolescents in West London," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 49(4), pages 247-250, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael L. Wilson & Andrea C. Dunlavy & Bharathi Viswanathan & Pascal Bovet, 2012. "Suicidal Expression among School-Attending Adolescents in a Middle-Income Sub-Saharan Country," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Stephanie Wiafe & Ariana Mihan & Colleen M. Davison, 2021. "Neighborhood-Level Influences and Adolescent Health Risk Behaviors in Rural and Urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-28, July.
    3. Monica H. Swahn & Jane B. Palmier & Rogers Kasirye & Huang Yao, 2012. "Correlates of Suicide Ideation and Attempt among Youth Living in the Slums of Kampala," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Kim-San Lim & Celine H. Wong & Roger S. McIntyre & Jiayun Wang & Zhisong Zhang & Bach X. Tran & Wanqiu Tan & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2019. "Global Lifetime and 12-Month Prevalence of Suicidal Behavior, Deliberate Self-Harm and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents between 1989 and 2018: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-26, November.
    5. Kumar, Pradeep & Srivastava, Shobhit & Mishra, Prem Shankar & Sinha, Debashree & Dhillon, Preeti, 2020. "Does depressive symptoms, physical inactivity and substance use catalyze the suicidal tendency among adolescents? Evidence from a cross-sectional study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    6. Tracie I Ebalu & Jaclyn C Kearns & Lucienne Ouermi & Mamadou Bountogo & Ali Sié & Till Bärnighausen & Guy Harling, 2023. "Prevalence and correlates of adolescent self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A population-based study in Burkina Faso," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1626-1635, November.
    7. N/A, 2011. "Suicidal behaviour in adolescents," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 57(1_suppl), pages 40-56, March.
    8. Karl Peltzer & Supa Pengpid, 2012. "Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors among School-Going Adolescents in Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-12, January.

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