Deliberate Self-Harm Among Chinese Children with Different Types and Severity of Disabilities

Huiping Zhu, Xiayidanmu Abudusaimaiti, Joe Xiang and Qi Gao
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Huiping Zhu: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Xiayidanmu Abudusaimaiti: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Joe Xiang: The Center for Intervention Research in Schools, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Qi Gao: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-11

Abstract: Background: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and to compare the risk of self-harm in Chinese children with different types and severity of disabilities. Methods: Participants were 1300 children aged 6–17 years in Beijing, China; 650 children with disabilities and 650 healthy peers matched on age, gender and residence district. Questionnaires were completed anonymously by parents or children if the age or disability made it necessary. The associations between the disability type, severity and DSH were examined using the Chi-square testing and logistic regression models. Results: Children with a single disability or multiple disabilities had statistically higher rates of DSH than children without disabilities (15.6% and 39.7% compared to 10.9%). The prevalence of DSH was associated with the severity of disability, being 36.2% among children with level 1 (the most severe) disability, 19.8% among children with level 2 disability, and 9.2% among children with level 3 + 4 disability. The multivariable odds ratio (OR) of DSH among children with any disability was statistically higher than that among children without a disability (OR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.71, 3.36; p < 0.05). Children with multiple disabilities (OR = 6.89; 95% CI: 4.24–11.20) and level 1 severity of disability (OR = 6.11; 95% CI: 3.91–9.56) had the highest risk of DSH. Conclusions: This study clearly demonstrated associations between the severity and type of disability and DSH. This finding highlights the importance of DSH in children with disabilities, and underlines the importance of the prevention of DSH among a vulnerable pediatric population in China.

Keywords: deliberate self-harm; children; disability; Chinese (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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