Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre for Research and Training, Nairobi, Kenya
Danuta Wasserman
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Victoria Mutiso
Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre for Research and Training, Nairobi, Kenya
Jenelle R. Shanley
Pacific University, Hillsboro, USA
Christine Musyimi
Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre for Research and Training, Nairobi, Kenya
Pascalyne Nyamai
Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre for Research and Training, Nairobi, Kenya
Timothy Munyua
Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre for Research and Training, Nairobi, Kenya
Monica H. Swahn
Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, USA
Tom L. Osborn
Shamiri Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
Natalie E. Johnson
Shamiri Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland; and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Department of Psychiatry, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre; Oxford, UK; and World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre, Oxford, UK
Sonja Gilbert
Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; and INVEST Child Psychiatry, INVEST Research Flagship Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
John R. Weisz
Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
World Psychiatric Association, Geneva, Switzerland
Andre Sourander
Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; INVEST Child Psychiatry, INVEST Research Flagship Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; and Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
Background Most evidence on suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts comes from Western countries; prevalence rates may differ in other parts of the world. Aims This study determined the prevalence of suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts in high school students in three different regional settings in Kenya. Method This was a cross-sectional study of 2652 high school students. We asked structured questions to determine the prevalence of various types of suicidality, the methods planned or effected, and participants’ gender, age and form (grade level). We provided descriptive statistics, testing significant differences by chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests, and used logistic regression to identify relationships among different variables and their associations with suicidality. Results The prevalence rates of suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts were 26.8, 14.9 and 15.7%, respectively. These rates are higher than those reported for Western countries. Some 6.7% of suicide attempts were not associated with plans. The most common method used in suicide attempts was drinking chemicals/poison (18.8%). Rates of suicidal thoughts and plans were higher for older students and students in urban rather than rural locations, and attempts were associated with female gender and higher grade level – especially the final year of high school, when exam performance affects future education and career prospects. Conclusion Suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts are prevalent in Kenyan high school students. There is a need for future studies to determine the different starting points to suicidal attempts, particularly for the significant number whose attempts are not preceded by thoughts and plans.
