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.