Suicidal ideation among MSM in three West African countries

Associations with stigma and social capital

Bibliographic Data

ID19273773
AuthorsShauna Stahlman (0000-0003-2861-7734, Center for Public Health and Human Rights and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA, corresponding author), Ashley Grosso (0000-0001-5759-7125, Center for Public Health and Human Rights and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Sosthenes Ketende (0000-0002-6050-605X, Center for Public Health and Human Rights and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Vincent Palokinam Pitché (0000-0001-7858-7049, University of Lomé), Vincent Pitche (Conseil National de Lutte contre le SIDA-Togo (National AIDS Council), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo), Seni Kouanda (0000-0003-2426-7669, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), Nuha Ceesay (UNAIDS, Mbabane, Swaziland), Henri Gautier Ouédraogo (0000-0001-8566-7530, Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé), Odette Ky-Zerbo (Programme d’Appui au Monde Associatif et Communautaire (PAMAC), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), Odette Ky‐Zerbo (0000-0002-0018-1580), Marcel Lougué (Programme d’Appui au Monde Associatif et Communautaire (PAMAC), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso), Daouda Diouf (0000-0001-5796-3164, Enda Santé Senegal, Dakar, Sénégal), Simplice Anato (Arc-en-ciel, Lomé, Togo), Jules Tchalla (Espoir Vie, Lomé, Togo), Stefan D Baral (0000-0002-5482-2419, Johns Hopkins University), Stefan Baral (Center for Public Health and Human Rights and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA)
Year2016
Volume62
Issue6
Pages522-531
Publication date2016-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Social Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-7640 • E-ISSN: 1741-2854
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0020764016663969
PMID27515832
OpenAlexW2516065242
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited56

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation is understudied among men who have sex with men (MSM) across Sub-Saharan Africa. AIMS: This study aimed to explore social capital and sexual behavior stigma associated with suicidal ideation among MSM in the West African nations of The Gambia, Burkina Faso and Togo. METHODS: Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and snowball sampling across multiple cities (n = 1555) from July 2011 to August 2013. During a single study visit, participants completed a survey. Logistic regression models were used to assess bivariate and multivariable associations with suicidal ideation. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation was 13% overall and ranged 6%-17% across study sites. After adjusting for potential confounders, MSM who reported stigma as a result of having sex with men were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Physical and sexual violence was strongly associated with suicidal ideation, including being physically harmed (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.91, 4.52), tortured (aOR = 3.86, 95% CI = 2.17, 6.86) and raped (aOR = 3.07, 95% CI = 2.05, 4.60). In contrast, increasing social participation with the broader community was associated with decreased report of suicidal ideation (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85, 0.99). CONCLUSION: Sexual behavior stigma should be addressed to improve mental health among MSM in Western Sub-Saharan Africa

Environmental health · Logistic regression · Men who have sex with men · Odds ratio · Poison control · Psychiatry · Snowball sampling · Social stigma · Sociology · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Syphilis · Clinical Psychology · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology

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