Correlates of suicidal behaviour among adults in Guyana

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviour (SB) among adults in Guyana. Secondary data were analysed from the national cross-sectional 2016 Guyana STEPS survey, which sampled 2 662 adults aged 18-69 years (female = 59.9%; East Indian = 42.3%; median age = 37.4 years). Following logistic regression analyses, results indicated that the prevalence of past 12-month SB was 4.6% (ideation 4.4%, suicide plan 1.5%, and/or suicide attempt 1.1%). Mixed and other ethnicities, childhood physical abuse, childhood sexual abuse, adult sexual abuse, experience of threats, exposure to violent injuries, family history of suicide attempts, and history of heart attack, angina, or stroke were associated with a high risk of SB. Being male sex and higher education were associated with lower risk for SB. In addition to psychosocial distress, considering a history of cardiovascular disorder is essential in devising population-based suicide prevention strategies in Guyana.