The global and regional burden of sexual behaviors and food insecurity and their combined association on the magnitude of suicidal behaviors among 121,248 adolescent girls: An international observational study in 67 low- and middle-income and high-income countries
Article
Article Title | The global and regional burden of sexual behaviors and food insecurity and their combined association on the magnitude of suicidal behaviors among 121,248 adolescent girls: An international observational study in 67 low- and middle-income and high-income countries |
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ERA Journal ID | 13088 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Mahumud, Rashidul Alam (Author), Rahman, Md. Ashfikur (Author), Gow, Jeff (Author), Kamara, Joseph Kihika (Author), Koly, Kamrun Nahar (Author), Shahjalal, Md (Author), Law, Chi Kim (Author), Hossain, Md. Golam (Author) and Renzaho, Andre M. N. (Author) |
Journal Title | Journal of Affective Disorders |
Journal Citation | 298 (Part A), pp. 481-491 |
Number of Pages | 11 |
Year | 2022 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0165-0327 |
1573-2517 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.11.023 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016503272101243X |
Abstract | Background: Food insecurity and early sexual behaviors increase the risk of suicidal behavior, however their combined association on social behaviors receive little attention. Therefore, this study estimated the magnitude of adolescent global suicidal burden, it correlates with food insecurity and sexual behaviors, and assessed the combined association of food insecurity and sexual behaviors on the burden of suicidal behaviors (SBs) among school-going adolescent girls aged between 11 and 17 years. Methods: The study design is multi-county, and pooled cross-sectional in nature. Data for 67 countries from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were used. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to generate national and overall pooled estimates of suicidal behaviors. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the adjusted effect of independent factors and the combined associations of sexual behaviors and food insecurity on adolescent SBs in the context of global, regional, and country income groups and adjusted by a set of explanatory factors. Results: The study included 121,248 girls aged 11–17 years. The population-weighted prevalence of high-level (SBs) was 40.65% among school-going girls who experienced sexual intercourse and 7.41% among those who reported severe food insecurity. However, the burden of SBs varied according to type of sexual behaviors and the age. The burden of SB among girls who had sexual intercourse with 1–2 sex partners, 3–4 sex partners, or >4 sex partners was 11.49%, 13.28%, or 18.43%, respectively. The high-level SB was double (23.08%) among adolescent girls who had first sexual intercourse aged 11–13 years old compared to adolescent girls aged 14–17 years (11.49%). The burden of SBs (for at least one SB, for two SBs, or for three SBs) were significantly associated with adolescent girls who experienced sexual intercourse (relative risk ratio, RRR = 2.04, 95% confidence interval, CI:1.83–2.28; RRR = 2.24, 1.99–2.52; RRR = 1.86, 1.59–2.18), sexual intercourse with four or more sex partners (RRR = 1.44, 1.15–1.79; RRR = 1.65, 1.33–2.06; RRR = 2.47, 1.94–3.16), first sexual intercourse aged 11–13 years (RRR = 1.22, 1.02–1.46; RRR = 1.51, 1.26–1.82; RRR = 2.26, 1.81–2.83), compared to adolescents who had no experience of SBs. Compared to adolescent girls who did neither experience food insecurity nor sexual intercourse, the overall burden of SBs (for at least one SB, for two SBs or for three SBs) were significantly higher among girls reporting to have experienced both food insecurity and sexual intercourse (RRR = 1.55, 1.29–1.86; RRR = 1.70, 1.42–2.04; RRR = 1.54, 1.26–1.88); and those reporting having experienced food insecurity but have never had sexual intercourse (RRR = 1.66, 1.48–1.87; RRR = 1.45, 1.26–1.67; RRR = 1.62, 1.36–1.92). However, it was significantly lower among girls reporting to have had sexual intercourse but never experienced food insecurity. This association was extended among adolescents in the context of regional and country income groups. Conclusion: The high burden of suicidal behaviors among adolescents calls for an urgent policy interventions to address food insecurity as a means to keep adolescents in school. The interventions should also aim to integrate safeguards that dissuade youngsters from early sex and protect them from sexual victimisation, and the associated adverse outcomes that that hamstring the attainment of SDG 3.4.2. |
Keywords | suicidal behaviours; girls |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 440304. Mortality |
440607. Population geography | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Centre for Health Research |
Khulna University, Bangladesh | |
School of Business | |
World Vision East Africa Regional Office, Kenya | |
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ICDDR), Bangladesh | |
North South University, Bangladesh | |
University of Sydney | |
University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh | |
University of Western Sydney | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7q15/the-global-and-regional-burden-of-sexual-behaviors-and-food-insecurity-and-their-combined-association-on-the-magnitude-of-suicidal-behaviors-among-121-248-adolescent-girls-an-international
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