Sociodemographic factors associated with self-reported suicidal attempts in the Latvian general population

To assess the prevalence and identify associated sociodemographic factors of self-reported suicide attempts in the Latvian general population. The study is based on secondary data of the Health Behaviour Among Latvian Adult Population survey in years 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, provided by the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia. Questions on suicidal behaviour were included in the survey questionnaire. Interviews in the respondent’s home/residence were carried out to gather information on a representative sample of the Latvian population aged 15-64 years old (in 2010, 2012, 2014) and 15-74 in 2016, (n=12,606). Stratified random sampling was used. Respondents were asked to report the occurrence of SA during the previous year. Sociodemographic information included gender, age (age groups 15-34, 35-54, 55-74 years), nationality (Latvian/non-Latvian), cohabitation (married/cohabiting, single/divorced/widowed), years of education (≤9, 10–13, ≥14), employment (employed, unemployed, student/pupil, economically inactive), income (low, middle, high), habitat (urban/rural). Binary logistic regression was applied. The prevalence of the last year self-reported SA was 0.3% (n=43). Several sociodemographic factors showed significant associations with SA in adjusted odds ratio (OR), (adjusted for all independent variables mentioned above). Factor associated with SA were older (55-74 years) age (OR 0.11, p=0.006) in comparison with the youngest (15-34 years) age group. Higher odds for SA were identified for those with education 0-9 years (OR 12.69, p<0.001) and 10-13 years (OR 3.81, p=0.042) compared to the group of education higher than 14 years. Unemployment was associated with higher SA rates (OR 3.36, p=0.016) compared to respondents who are employed. Other factors did not show significant associations with SA. Sociodemographic factors as older age, education 0-13 years, unemployment have been found to be significantly associated with SA. These findings might help to identify vulnerable groups in the Latvian general population in relation to suicidality and thus to develop targeted preventive measures.