Abstract
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Background: Research on the prevalence of suicidal ideation, attempt, and cormorbid psychiatric disorders in post-conflict areas is still limited. Aim: We explored the prevalence of suicidal ideation, attempt, associated psychiatric disorders and HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Northern Uganda, an area that experienced civil strife for over two decades. Methods: A total of 2400 respondents (aged 18 and above) and randomly selected in three districts (Gulu, Amuru and Nwoya), were interviewed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess for associations between suicidality (suicidal ideation and attempt) and psychiatric cormorbidities. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt were 12.1 % and 6.2 % respectively. Suicidality was significantly (P<0.001) higher among respondents with major depressive disorder (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) = 9.5; 95%CI= 7.4, 12.1) and post-traumatic stress disorder (adjusted OR =2.4; 95%CI= 1.6, 3.6). Men had lower odds of ideating or attempting suicide compared to women (adjusted OR = 0.55; 95%CI: 0.38, 0.82). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of suicide ideation and attempt indicate a major public health problem in post-conflict Northern Uganda. Effective public mental health programs that that target both suicidality and psychiatric co-morbodities will be vital. Special attention should be given to women in post conflict Northern Uganda. Keywords: Suicide attempt, ideation, cormorbidity, post-conflict Northern Uganda
Subjects
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Suicide attempt • cormorbidity • ideation • post-conflict Northern Uganda • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/epidemiology • Adolescent • Adult • Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology • Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology • Female • HIV Infections/epidemiology • Humans • Interviews as Topic • Logistic Models • Male • Middle Aged • Odds Ratio • Prevalence • Risk Factors • Sex Distribution • Socioeconomic Factors • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology • Suicidal Ideation • Suicide, Attempted/psychology • Uganda/epidemiology • War Exposure/statistics & numerical data • Young Adult • Psychiatry • Public health • Odds ratio • Suicidal ideation • Major depressive disorder • Suicide attempt • Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) • Poison control • Suicide prevention • Medicine