Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Suicide 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 me...

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Main Authors: Getachew Tesfaw Desalegn, Mesele Wondie, Saron Dereje, Adanech Addisu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-08-01
Series:Annals of General Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-020-00295-2
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author Getachew Tesfaw Desalegn
Mesele Wondie
Saron Dereje
Adanech Addisu
author_facet Getachew Tesfaw Desalegn
Mesele Wondie
Saron Dereje
Adanech Addisu
author_sort Getachew Tesfaw Desalegn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Suicide 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. Methods An 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. Results A 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. Conclusions In 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.
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spelling doaj.art-18862fb17acb4ec799928851cf0ec14a2022-12-21T20:33:27ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2020-08-011911810.1186/s12991-020-00295-2Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional studyGetachew Tesfaw Desalegn0Mesele Wondie1Saron Dereje2Adanech Addisu3Departments of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of GondarDepartments of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of GondarUniversity of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized HospitalUniversity of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized HospitalAbstract Background Suicide 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. Methods An 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. Results A 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. Conclusions In 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-020-00295-2Suicide ideationAttemptMedical studentsPrevalenceEthiopia
spellingShingle Getachew Tesfaw Desalegn
Mesele Wondie
Saron Dereje
Adanech Addisu
Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
Annals of General Psychiatry
Suicide ideation
Attempt
Medical students
Prevalence
Ethiopia
title Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
title_full Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
title_short Suicide ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study
title_sort suicide ideation attempt and determinants among medical students northwest ethiopia an institution based cross sectional study
topic Suicide ideation
Attempt
Medical students
Prevalence
Ethiopia
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12991-020-00295-2
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AT sarondereje suicideideationattemptanddeterminantsamongmedicalstudentsnorthwestethiopiaaninstitutionbasedcrosssectionalstudy
AT adanechaddisu suicideideationattemptanddeterminantsamongmedicalstudentsnorthwestethiopiaaninstitutionbasedcrosssectionalstudy