School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Woodhouse, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK.
Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 84, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
J Public Health (Oxf). 2022 Mar 7;44(1):e10-e19. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab076.
A growing global concern is that suicide research has paid little attention to young people with disabilities, particularly, in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs). We aimed to estimate the 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt and describe some associations among deaf adolescents in Ghana.
This is a cross-sectional anonymous self-report survey involving a nationally representative random sample of 450 school-going deaf adolescents. Data analysis included bivariate and multivariable approaches.
The overall 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation was 19·3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 15·8-23·3) and suicidal attempt was 15·6% (95% CI = 12·3-19·2). Although alcohol use and parental divorce were strongly associated with increased odds of both suicidal ideation and attempt, high subjective mental well-being was associated with reduced odds of both suicidal ideation and attempt. Living with no parents and being a final year student were associated with suicidal ideation, while male gender was associated with suicidal attempt.
The prevalence of suicidal behaviours among school-going deaf adolescents in this study compares with estimates among in-school non-deaf adolescents in Ghana and other LAMICs in Africa, and also highlights the need for prevention efforts against the onset of suicidal ideation and possible transition to attempt and suicide among deaf adolescents.
一个日益受到关注的问题是，自杀研究对残疾青少年关注甚少，尤其是在中低收入国家（LAMICs）。我们旨在评估加纳失聪青少年自杀意念和自杀未遂的 12 个月发生率，并描述一些相关因素。
这是一项横断面匿名自我报告调查，涉及加纳全国范围内具有代表性的 450 名在校失聪青少年的随机样本。数据分析包括双变量和多变量方法。
总体 12 个月自杀意念发生率为 19.3%（95%置信区间 [CI] = 15.8-23.3），自杀未遂率为 15.6%（95% CI = 12.3-19.2）。尽管饮酒和父母离异与自杀意念和自杀未遂的可能性增加强烈相关，但主观心理健康状况较高与自杀意念和自杀未遂的可能性降低相关。与父母同住和最后一年学生与自杀意念相关，而男性与自杀未遂相关。
本研究中在校失聪青少年自杀行为的发生率与加纳和非洲其他 LAMICs 中在校非失聪青少年的估计值相当，这也凸显了需要针对失聪青少年的自杀意念发生和可能向自杀未遂转变进行预防工作的必要性。
