Suicide attempt: prevalence and associated factors among users of Primary Health Care

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of attempted suicide among Primary Health Care (PHC) users and to verify the associated factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study, performed with individuals aged ≥ 18 years, assisted in the urban PHC services in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The prevalence of the outcome was calculated, with a confidence interval of 95% (95% CI), in addition to the crude and adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PR) to verify the associated factors. Results: Sample of 1,443 individuals, 9% prevalence of attempted suicide (95% CI 8%-11%), most likely in women (PR = 3.01; 95% CI 1.54-5.86), 18-59 years (PR = 2.15; 95% CI 1.38-3.34), individuals without a spouse (PR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.09-3.03), with two or more chronic non-communicable diseases (PR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.08-2.18), diagnosis of HIV/AIDS (PR = 3.02; 95% CI 1.30-7.02) and of depression (PR = 2.69; 95% CI 1.83-3.96), family history of attempted suicide (PR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.50-2.63) and insomnia (PR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.05-2.02). An inversely proportional linear trend was observed in relation to education, with a 42% reduction in the probability of the outcome among participants with higher education (PR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.39-0.86). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of attempted suicide compared to the national average and association with adult age, female gender, lower education level, absence of a partner, diagnosis of chronic diseases, insomnia and family history of suicide.