Suicidal Ideation and Associated Factors Among School-Going Adolescents in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study determined the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation among school-going adolescents in Harare, Zimbabwe. Data on 1970 respondents were obtained from a cross sectional study of the Global School-based health survey. Respondents were selected using a two-stage probability sampling technique. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 21.6%. Males were less likely to have suicidal ideation than females (OR=0.70; 95% CI 0.54,0.91). Worrying (OR=1.81; 95% CI 1.29,2.56), feeling of loneliness (OR=2.04; 95% CI 1.43,2.90), cigarette smoking (OR=1.87; 95% CI 1.11, 3.16), and drinking alcohol (OR=1.74; 95% CI 1.17, 2.60) were associated with suicidal ideation. Public health programs designed to control cigarette smoking and alcohol use may also impact positively on suicidal ideation.