Is socioeconomic position associated with risk of attempted suicide in rural Sri Lanka? A cross sectional study of 165,000 individuals

Dee Knipe, David Gunnell, R Pieris, C Priyadarshana, K Hawton, M Eddleston, Chris Metcalfe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)
377 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Lower socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in high income countries, but this association is unclear in low and middle income countries.

Methods

We investigated the association of SEP with attempted suicide in a cross-sectional survey of 165 233 Sri Lankans. SEP data were collected at the household (assets, social standing (highest occupation of a household member), foreign employment, and young (≤40 years) female headed households) and individual level (education and occupation). Respondent-reported data on suicide attempts in the last year were recorded. Random effects logistic regression models, accounting for clustering, were used to investigate the association of SEP with attempted suicide.

Results

Households reported 398 attempted suicides in the preceding year (239 per 100 000). Fewer assets (OR 3.2 95% CI 2.4, 4.4) and having a daily wage labourer (i.e. insecure/low income job) (OR 2.3 95% CI 1.6, 3.2) as the highest occupation increased the risk of an attempted suicide within households. At an individual level, daily wage labourers were at an increased risk of attempted suicide compared to farmers. The strongest associations were with low levels of education (OR 4.6 95% CI 2.5, 8.4), with a stronger association in men than women.

Conclusion

We found that indicators of lower SEP are associated with increased risk of attempted suicide in rural Sri Lanka. Longitudinal studies with objective measures of suicide attempts are needed to confirm this association.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere014006
Number of pages10
JournalBMJ Open
Volume7
Issue number3
Early online date22 Mar 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2017

Research Groups and Themes

  • Centre for Surgical Research
  • SASH

Keywords

  • Suicide
  • Sri Lanka
  • Socioeconomic position
  • Self-harm
  • Asia

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  • Dee Knipe GCRF Fellowship

    Knipe, D. (Principal Investigator)

    4/01/173/01/18

    Project: Research

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