Introduction
Low
and middle income countries bear the majority burden of self-harm, yet there is
a paucity of evidence detailing risk-factors for self-harm in these
populations. This study aims to identify environmental, socio-economic and
demographic household-level risk factors for self-harm in five impoverished
urban communities in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Methods
Annual
serial cross-sectional surveys were undertaken in five impoverished urban
communities in Johannesburg for the Health, Environment and Development (HEAD)
study. Logistic regression analysis using the HEAD study data (2006–2011) was
conducted to identify household-level risk factors associated with self-harm
(defined as a self-reported case of a fatal or non-fatal suicide attempt)
within the household during the preceding year. Stepwise multivariate logistic
regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with self-harm.
Results
A
total of 2 795 household interviews were conducted from 2006 to 2011. There was
no significant trend in self-harm over time. Results from the final model
showed that self-harm was significantly associated with households exposed to a
violent crime during the past year (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 5.72; 95% CI
1.64–19.97); that have a member suffering from a chronic medical condition (AOR
8.95; 95% 2.39–33.56) and households exposed to indoor smoking (AOR 4.39; CI
95% 1.14–16.47).
Conclusion
This study provides evidence on household risk factors of
self-harm in settings of urban poverty and has highlighted the potential for a
more cost-effective approach to identifying those at risk of self-harm based on
household level factors.
Below: Factors associated with self-harm by stepwise multiple logistic regression: Johannesburg, South Africa (2006–2011)
Full article at: http://goo.gl/nUKAyF
By:
Nisha Naicker, Angela Mathee
Environment & Health Research Unit, South African
Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nisha Naicker, Pieter de Jager, Shan Naidoo, Angela Mathee
Department of Community Medicine, School of Public Health,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Pieter de Jager
Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, National Institute for
Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South
Africa
Angela Mathee
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg,
Johannesburg, South Africa
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