Suicidal Ideation among Youth Living in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda

Rachel Culbreth, Monica H. Swahn, David Ndetei, Lynnette Ametewee and Rogers Kasirye
Additional contact information
Rachel Culbreth: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3984, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
Monica H. Swahn: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3984, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
David Ndetei: Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, University Way, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Lynnette Ametewee: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3984, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA
Rogers Kasirye: Uganda Youth Development Link, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Rd, P.O. Box 12659, Kampala 00256, Uganda

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors associated with suicidal ideation among youth living in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. Analyses are based on cross-sectional survey data, collected in 2014, of a convenience sample ( n = 1134) of urban service-seeking youth participating in a Uganda Youth Development Link drop-in center. Logistic regression analyses were computed to determine the psychosocial factors associated with suicidal ideation. Among youth participants, 23.54% ( n = 266) reported suicidal ideation in the past year. In the multivariable analysis, suicidal ideation was associated with being female (OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.25), reporting one (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.18) or two deceased parents (OR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.03, 2.35), ever living on the streets (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.86, 3.79), problem drinking (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.19, 2.80), sexually transmitted infection (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.21), ever being raped (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.20), and experiencing physical child abuse (OR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.75, 3.27). Our findings underscore many unmet needs in this vulnerable population. However, strategies that specifically seek to address problem drinking—a modifiable risk factor for suicidal ideation—may be particularly warranted in this low-resource setting.

Keywords: adolescent health; suicidal ideation; problem drinking; high-risk youth; sub-Saharan Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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