Suicidal ideation, attempt, and determinants among medical students

Abstract Background: Suicidal ideation and attempts are highly prevalent among medical students compared to the general population and negatively impacts the quality of life, physical, and mental well being of students. However, research into suicidal ideation and attempts among medical students in low and middle-income countries are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the suicidal ideation and attempts and associated factors among medical students in Ethiopia. Methods : An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 393 medical students from March to June 2019 at the University of Gondar in Ethiopia. A simple random sampling technique used to get study units by their identification card. Suicidal ideation and attempts were assessed by using World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to assess lifetime suicidal ideation and attempt during medical school. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors between suicidal ideation and attempts with the explanatory variables at P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 393 study participants were interviewed with a response rate of 92.9%. The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among study participants were found to be 14% and 7.4% with 95% CI (10.9, 18.1) and (5.1, 10.2), respectively. In multivariate logistic regression; female sex (AOR: 5.21, 95% CI: 2.42, 11.20), depression (AOR: 10.12, 95% CI; 4.80, 21.52), current khat chewing (AOR: 4.46, 95% CI; 132, 15.02), and poor social support (AOR: 4.46, 95% CI: 1.43, 13.87) were factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation. Being female (AOR: 8.08, 95% CI: 3.04, 21.39), depression (AOR: 10.66, 95% CI; 4.01, 28.01 ), and history of mental illness (AOR: 5.53, 95% CI; 1.20, 25.50) were factors significantly associated with suicide attempts. Conclusions : In the current study, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among medical students was low compared to other studies, but the suicide attempt was high. Ethiopian medical students better to instate a screening program for every medical student for early detection and intervention of suicidal ideation and attempt. Keywords: Suicidal Ideation, Attempt, Medical Students, Prevalence, Ethiopia