Risk factors for suicide attempts among Navajo adolescents.
D C Grossman,
B C Milligan and
R A Deyo
Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle.
BACKGROUND: Rates of adolescent suicide in the United Statesare highest among Native Americans but little is known aboutrisk factors for suicide attempts in this population. METHODS:To identify risk factors for self-reported suicide attemptsby Navajo adolescents, we analyzed the 1988 Indian Health ServiceAdolescent Health Survey that was administered to 7,254 studentsin grades 6 through 12 on the Navajo reservation. The responsesof students reporting a past suicide attempt were compared toothers. RESULTS: Nearly 15 percent (N = 971) reported a previoussuicide attempt; over half of those admitted to more than oneattempt. Controlling for age, a logistic regression model revealedthe following associations with suicide attempts: a historyof mental health problems (OR = 3.2); alienation from familyand community (OR = 3.2); having a friend who attempted suicide(OR = 2.8); weekly consumption of hard liquor (OR = 2.7); afamily history of a suicide or attempt (OR = 2.3); poor self-perceptionof health (OR = 2.2); a history of physical abuse (OR = 1.9);female gender (OR = 1.7); and sexual abuse (OR = 1.5). CONCLUSIONS:Efforts to prevent adolescent suicide attempts in this populationshould target individuals with those risk factors of the highestrisk and prevalence of exposure.
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