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 limiteddata on the prevalence and factors associated with suicide particularly in Ghana. To explore the prevalence andrisk and protective factors associated with suicide in Ghana, a nationwide Global School-based Student HealthSurvey data collected among senior high school adolescents in Ghana was used. The prevalence of suicidalbehaviours was 18.2%, 22.5% and 22.2% for suicidal ideation, suicidal plan and suicidal attempt respectively. Inthefinal 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 foronly suicidal plan. Being bullied, physically attacked, involved in a physicalfight and food insecurity remainedrisk factors for suicidal behaviour (i.e. ideation, plan and attempt) after adjusting for other factors. Truancy wasfound as a risk factor for both suicidal ideation and plans but such effect diminished for suicidal plan afteradjusting for other variables. Increasing number of close friends remained a risk factor for both suicidal plan andattempt but such effect diminished for suicidal ideation after adjusting for other variables. Parental under-standing of adolescents’problems and worries remained a significant protective factor for all the indices ofsuicidal behaviour after adjusting for other variables. Parental respect for privacy was protective of suicidalattempt 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, drugand substance use and hunger can potentially reduce the prevalence of suicide among this population in Ghana.