ABSTRACT
Suicide poses a debilitating threat to adolescents' lives worldwide. Although suicide prevention efforts are evident globally, there is limited evidence on the prevalence and correlations of suicidal behaviour among school-going adolescents in Saint Lucia. We used a dataset from the 2018 Global School-based Student Health Survey to examine the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal behaviour among 1864 students from schools in Saint Lucia. Prevalence rates of 25.5%, 22.1%, and 17.5% were found for suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt, respectively. After adjusting for other factors, being male and having understanding parents were protective against suicidal behaviour. However, suicidal ideation was predicted by being physically attacked and bullied, parental guidance, tobacco use, loneliness, and worry. Moreover, being a victim of physical attacks and bullying, having close friends, being lonely, and worrying were predictive of making suicidal plans among adolescents. Attempting suicide was predicted by cigarette smoking, current use of tobacco and related products, bullying, having close friends, being lonely, and worrying. School-based preventive interventions are required to help address triggers of suicidal behaviour among adolescents in Saint Lucia and to help attain the targets for suicide prevention in the global Sustainable Development Goals.
ABSTRACT
The relationship between parental HIV/AIDS status or death and child mental health is well known, although the role of child maltreatment as a confounder or mediator in this relationship remains uncertain. This study examined the potential path mechanism through child maltreatment mediating the link between HIV/AIDS family dysfunction trajectories and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Lower Manya Municipal Assembly of Ghana. A questionnaire which consisted of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Social and Health Assessment (SAHA), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) was completed by 291 adolescents. Controlling for relevant sociodemographic confounders, mediation analyses using linear regression were fitted to examine whether the association between family dysfunction and psychosocial problems is mediated by child maltreatment. The results indicate that, among adolescents, child maltreatment fully mediated the association between being orphaned by AIDS and self-esteem (b = .59 [95%CI .32, .91]), delinquency and risky behaviours (b = .56 [95%CI .31, .86]) and peer problems (b = .74 [95%CI .48, 1.03]). Similarly, child maltreatment fully mediated the association between living with an HIV/AIDS-infected parent and self-esteem (b = .78 [95%CI .43, 1.23]), delinquency and risky behaviours (b = .76 [95%CI .45, 1.11]), depression/emotional problems (b = .64 [95%CI .40, .92]) and peer problems (b = .94 [95%CI .66, 1.26]). Partial mediation was found for hyperactivity. Child maltreatment mediates the association between the family dysfunction trajectories of parental HIV/AIDS or death and psychosocial problems among adolescents. This implies that efforts to address child maltreatment among families affected by HIV/AIDS may be helpful in the prevention of psychosocial problems among these children, thus enhancing their wellbeing. The findings therefore underscore the need for comprehensive psychosocial interventions that addresses both the unique negative exposures of HIV/AIDS and maltreatment for children affected by HIV.
ABSTRACT
Suicide occurs throughout life and is among the leading causes of death among adolescents globally. Aside from the growing literature on this serious mental health issue, little is known about the prevalence of suicide and the variables that predispose and protect adolescents against it in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. We analysed the Global School-based Student Health Survey data collection among school-going adolescents in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to explore the prevalence, risk and protective variables associated with suicidal behaviours. We observed prevalence rates of 26%, 26%, and 19% for suicide ideation, plan, and attempt, respectively. Furthermore, sex (being male) and having parents or guardians who understand the problems and worries of adolescents served as protective factors against all three suicide behaviours. However, we observed truancy, cigarette smoking, bullying victims (on/off school property), being cyberbullied, loneliness, and worry as risk factors for suicide ideation among adolescents. Risk for suicide plan was predicted by truancy, cigarette smoking, physical fight, bullying victims (on/off school property), being cyberbullied, loneliness, and worry. After controlling for other factors, truancy, amphetamine or methamphetamine use, cigarette smoking, physical fight, bullying victims (on/off school property), serious injury, close friends, loneliness, and worrying about life issues predicted suicide attempt risk among adolescents in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Early identification and suicide prevention interventions focusing on identified protective and risk factors may help minimise the prevalence of suicide behaviours among school-going adolescents in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
