PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AND ATTEMPT AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ATTENDING AT THE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF WOLKITE CITY ADMINSTRATION HEALTH CENTERS, GURAGE ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA, CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY , 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death or an intentional termination of one’s own life. These suicidal behaviors are much more pronounced in people living with Human immunodeficiency virus. Despite this, there is a scarcity of aggregate evidence in south Ethiopia. This study was therefore aimed to fill this gap. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with Human immunodeficiency virus attending the outpatient department at wolkite city administration health centers, Gurage zone, south Ethiopia, May 2022. Method and materials: institution based cross-sectional study design was used. Systematic random sampling was used to select study participants. The participants were selected consecutively from 361 patients’ who had follow up in this month at wolkite health center ART unit. Data was collected by face to face interview using structured questionnaire. Data was check for completeness and consistency, and then coded. The coded data was entered into SPSS software program for analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression was used. Ethical clearance was obtained from wolkite health center. The study was conducted in May, 2022. Result: the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt was found to be 21.7%and 9.6% respectively. Comorbid medical illness (AOR=1.286, CI: 1.447-3.314), severe depression were (AOR=2.846, CI: 1.271-3.644) associated with suicidal ideation. Whereas being uneducated (AOR=2.401, 95%CI: 1.250-2.630), severe depression (AOR=6.173, 95%CI: 3.75-8.677), high stigma (AOR=3.204, 95%CI: 2.071-6.455) and low of social support (AOR=3.588, 95%CI: 2.596- 5.744) were associated with suicidal attempt. Conclusion and recommendation: Suicidal ideation and attempt are high among HIV positive patients. There is a need to inform family member about their problem when feeling of these idea and early self-referring of the patients to their ART clinicians for further referral to mental health profession and psychologist for advice when he/she feels suicidal ideation and attempt