Suicidal behaviors among sexual gender-based violence victims in one-stop centers, Northeast Ethiopia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Victims of Sexual Gender-Based Violence reported to have a higher prevalence of suicidal behaviors. This study aims to assess the prevalence of suicidal behaviors among Sexual Gender-Based Violence servivors (SGBVs) attending One-stop in North East, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 321 victims at three one-stop centers in Northeast Ethiopia from December 1/2022 and January 30/2023. The study participants were selected using a systematic random sampling technique during the study period. Suicidal behavior was measured by the Suicidal Behavior Revised (SBQ-R). In addition, the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) was used to measure social support, and the patient health questionnaire(PHQ-9) to measure depression. The data were entered into Epi data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression was carried out to identify independent predictors of suicidal behavior at a 95% confidence level. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a P-value < 0.05 and 95% CI were used for interpretation of the result. RESULTS: The study showed the overall prevalence of suicidal behavior among SGBVs was 26.2% (95% CI (21.4, 31.3). The prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts were 18.7% (95% CI (14.6, 23.4), 15.3% (95% CI (11.5, 19.7), and 4.7% (95% CI (2.6, 7.6) respectively. This study showed that depression [AOR = 8.08;95% CI (4.34,15.07)], family history of suicide [AOR = 2.27; 95% CI (1.05, 5.89)], and poor social support [(AOR = 4.79, 95% CI (1.05, 10.84)] were found to be significantly associated suicidal behavior among SGBVs-female victims. CONCLUSION: Suicidal behavior among SGBVs is 26%. This finding implies in Sexual Gender-Based violence victims there might be a deconstructed social system or social support system that is not well implemented. As well as for victims attending One-stop centers effectiveness of timely assessment and aggressive interventions for factors that can lead to suicidal behaviors, and depression should be implemented.