Prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt: associations with psychiatric disorders and HIV/AIDS in post-conflict Northern Uganda

• Published in: African health sciences Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 1027 - 1035
• Main Authors: Mugisha, James, Muyinda, Herbert, Kagee, Ashraf, Wandiembe, Peter, Mpugu, Stephen Kiwuwa, Vancampfort, Davy, Kinyanda, Eugene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda Makerere University Medical School 01-01-2016; Makerere Medical School
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Civil War; cormorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Humans; ideation; Interviews as Topic; Logistic Models; Male; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Odds Ratio; post-conflict Northern Uganda; Postwar periods; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Regression analysis; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide attempt; Suicide, Attempted - psychology; Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data; Suicides & suicide attempts; Uganda - epidemiology; War Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; Uganda; ideation; cormorbidity; post-conflict Northern Uganda; Suicide attempt
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v16i4.20

Background: Research on the prevalence of suicidal ideation, attempt,
and cormorbid psychiatric disorders in post-conflict areas is still
limited. Objective: 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.