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Table 2 Prevalence Estimates of Self-harm (by year and country of publication)

From: Self-harm with suicidal and non-suicidal intent in young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Author

(year)

Country

Term

Setting

(sample)

Prevalence estimate

   

Study

quality

Lifetime

12-month

6-month

1-month

Flisher et al.

(1993) [34].

South Africa.

Attempted suicide

School

(7340)

–

OV = 572/7340 (7.8%)

–

–

2/5

Kebede & Ketsela

(1993) [35].

Ethiopia.

Attempted suicide

School

(519)

OV = 74/519 (14.3%)

F = 32/232 (13.8%)

M = 42/287 (14.6%)

–

–

–

5/5

Peltzer et al.

(2000) [36].

South Africa.

Attempted suicide

School

(366)

OV = 46/366 (12.6%)

–

–

–

3/5

Madu & Matla

(2003) [37].

South Africa.

Attempted suicide

School

(435)

OV = 91/435 (21%)

F = 43/243 (18%)

M = 48/192 (25%)

–

–

–

4/5

Wild et al.

(2004) [38].

South Africa.

Suicidal attempt

School

(939)

–

OV = 95/939 (10%)

F = 69/519 (13.3%)

M = 26/420 (6.2%)

–

–

4/5

Sommer

(2005) [39].

Cross-national

(South Africa

& Germany)

Suicidal behaviour

School

(299)

OV = 48/299 (16.1%)

F = 38/185 (20.5%)

M = 10/114 (8.8%)

–

–

–

2/5

Flisher et al.

(2006) [40].

South Africa.

Suicidal attempt

School

(10669)

–

OV = 9.1%

F = 691/6066 (11.4%)

M = 313/4603 (6.8%)

–

–

3/5

Shiferaw et al.

(2006) [41].

Ethiopia.

Suicidal attempt

School

(667)

OV = 44/667 (6.6%)

OV = 39/667 (5.8%)

F = 11/155 (7.1%)

M = 28/512 (5.5%)

–

–

2/5

Omigbodun et al.

(2008) [20].

Nigeria.

Attempted suicide

School

(1429)

–

OV = 167/1429 (11.7%)

F = 87/702 (12.4%)

M = 80/727 (11%)

–

–

4/5

Peltzer

(2008) [42].

South Africa

Suicide attempt

School

(1157)

–

OV = 278/1157 (24%)

–

–

4/5

Mashego & Madu (2009) [43].

South Africa.

Suicidal behaviour

School

(142)

OV = 21/142 (14.8%)

F = 14/86 (16.3%)

M = 7/56 (12.5%)

–

–

–

4/5

Kinyanda et al.

(2011) [28].

Uganda.

Self-injury

&

Suicide attempt

Community

(897)

Self-injury:

13/897 (1.4%)

Suicide attempt:

15/897 (1.7%)

–

–

–

5/5

Nanewortor

(2011) [44].

Ghana

Attempted suicide

School

(383)

OV = 31/383 (8.1%)

–

–

–

4/5

Campbell

(2012) [45].

South Africa

Attempted suicide

School

(1033)

OV = 129/1033 (12.5%)

F = 100/552 (18.1%)

M = 26/437 (5.9%)

–

–

–

3/5

Swahn et al.

(2012) [30].

Uganda.

Suicidal attempt

Community

(457)

–

OV = 90/457 (19.8%)

F = 67/313 (21.4%)

M = 23/144 (16.2%)

–

–

4/5

van Niekerk et al.

(2012) [46].

South Africa.

Suicidal attempt

University

(810)

OV = 47/810 (5.8%)

–

–

–

3/5

Vawda

(2012) [47].

South Africa

Suicide attempt

School

(219)

OV = 12/219 (5.5%)

–

–

–

3/5

Gage

(2013) [25].

Ethiopia

Suicide attempt

Community

(2709)

–

–

OV = 62/2709 (2.3%)

–

4/5

Muula et al.

(2013) [48].

Zambia.

Self-inflicted serious injury

School

(2136)

–

OV = 254/2136 (11.9%)

–

–

5/5

Shilubane et al.

(2013) [49].

South Africa.

Suicidal attempt

School:

2002 SAYRBS (10549)

2008 SAYRBS

(10097)

–

–

2002 SAYRBS:

OV = 18.5%

F = 19.5%

M = 17.3%

2008 SAYRBS:

OV = 21.8%

F = 22.7%

M = 20.8%

–

5/5

van Rooyen

(2013) [50].

South Africa

Deliberate self-harm

University

(603)

OV = 291/603 (48.3%)

OV = 223/6033 (7.0%)

–

–

3/5

Cheng et al.

(2014) [33].

Cross-national (Nigeria, South Africa, China, India, USA).

Suicidal attempt

Community:

Nigeria

(449)

South Africa

(496)

–

Nigeria:

OV = 73/449 (16.3%)

F = 33/229 (14.3%)

M = 40/220 (18.3%)

South Africa:

OV = 54/496 (10.9%)

F = 22/224 (10%)

M = 32/272 (11.8%)

–

–

4/5

Chinawa et al.

(2014) [51].

Nigeria.

Attempted suicide

School

(764)

–

OV = 96/764 (12.5%)

–

–

2/5

Lippi

(2014) [52].

South Africa.

Deliberate self-harm

University

(603)

OV = 278/603 (46.1%)

F = 219/483 (45.3%)

M = 59/120 (49.2%)

OV = 216/603 (35.8%)

–

–

3/5

Penning & Collings

(2014) [53].

South Africa.

Self-injury

School

(716)

–

OV = 20/716 (2.8%)

–

–

5/5

Randall et al.

(2014) [54].

Benin.

Attempted suicide

School

(2690)

–

OV = 761/2690 (28.3%)

–

–

5/5

Shilubane et al.

(2014) [55].

South Africa.

Suicide attempt

School

(591)

–

–

OV = 134/591 (22.7%)

F = 52/297 (18.2%)

M = 77/294 (27%)

–

4/5

Cluver et al.

(2015) [56].

South Africa

Suicide attempt

Community

(3401)

–

–

–

OV = 111/3401 (3.3%)

F = 79/1926 (4.4%)

M = 32/1475 (2.2%)

4/5

Ng et al.

(2015) [57].

Rwanda

Suicidal behaviour

Community

(237)

–

–

OV = 30/237 (12.6%)

–

5/5

Giru

(2016) [58].

Ethiopia

Suicide attempt

School

(722)

OV = 90/722 (12.5%)

F = 47/336 (14%)

M = 43/386 (11.1%)

–

–

OV = 14/722 (1.9%)

F = 10/336 (3%)

M = 4/386 (1%)

3/5

Shaikh et al.

(2016) [59].

Malawi.

Suicide attempt

School

(2225)

–

OV = 287/2225 (12.9%)

F = 157/1188 (13.2%)

M = 130/1037 (12.4%)

–

–

5/5

van der Walt

(2016) [60].

South Africa

Self-harm

University

(201)

OV = 39/201 (19.4%)

–

–

–

3/5

Akanni et al.

(2017) [61].

Nigeria

Attempted suicide

School

(300)

–

OV = 17/300 (5.7%)

F = 8/135 (5.9%)

M = 9/165 (5.5%)

–

–

2/5

Asante et al.

(2017) [62].

Ghana

Suicide attempt

School

(1973)

–

OV = 438/1973 (22.2%)

F = 213/908 (23.5%)

M = 225/1065 (21.1%)

–

–

5/5

Asante & Meyer-Weitz

(2017) [31].

Ghana.

Suicidal attempt

Community (227)

–

–

–

OV = 60/227 (26.4%)

F = 36/105 (37.5%)

M = 24/122 (20.3%)

4/5

James et al.

(2017) [63].

South Africa.

Suicidal attempt

School

(10997)

–

–

OV = 17.8%

–

4/5

Nyandindi

(2017) [64].

Tanzania

Suicide attempt

School

(3793)

–

OV = 436/3793 (11.5%)

F = 230/1931 (11.9%)

M = 192/1862 (10.3%)

–

–

5/5

Peltzer & Pengpid

(2017) [65].

Namibia

Suicide attempt

School

(4531)

–

OV = 1029/4531 (22.7%)

F = 604/2406 (27.4%)

M = 577/2125 (24.5%)

–

–

4/5

Stansfeld et al.

(2017) [66].

South Africa

Suicide attempt

School

(1034)

–

OV = 139/1034 (13.4%)

–

–

4/5

Amare et al.

(2018) [67].

Ethiopia

Suicide attempt

School

(573)

OV = 93/573 (16.2%)

F = 44/296 (14.8%)

M = 49/277 (17.7%)

–

–

OV = 18/573 (3.1%)

5/5

Khuzwayo et al.

(2018) [68].

South Africa

Suicide attempt

School

(1687)

–

OV = 256/1687 (15.2%)

F = 196/854 (22.9%)

M = 60/833 (7.2%)

–

–

3/5

Liu et al.

(2018) [69].

Cross-national (Benin, Ghana, Malawi,

Mauritania, Namibia, &

eSwatini).

Suicide attempt

School:

Benin

(2649)

Ghana

(3543)

Malawi

(2212)

Mauritania

(1976)

Namibia

(4410)

eSwatini

(3612)

–

Benin:

OV = 747/2649 (28.2%)

F = 260/927 (28%)

M = 486/1722 (28.2%)

Ghana:

OV = 935/3543 (26.4%)

F = 449/1637 (27.4%)

M = 486/1906 (25.5%)

Malawi:

OV = 246/2212 (11.1%)

F = 128/1175 (10.7%)

M = 118/1037 (11.4%)

Mauritania:

OV = 334/1976 (16.9%)

F = 173/1045 (16.6%)

M = 160/931 (17.2%)

Namibia:

OV = 1129/4410 (25.6%)

F = 565/2329 (24.2%)

M = 564/2081 (27.1%)

eSwatini:

OV =585/3612 (16.2%)

F = 305/1896 (16.1%)

M = 280/1716 (16.3%)

–

–

5/5

van der Wal & George

(2018) [70].

South Africa.

Self-harm

School

(962)

OV = 167/962 (17.4%)

F = 109/557 (19.4%)

M = 58/405 (14.5%)

–

–

–

3/5

Baiden et al.

(2019) [71].

Ghana

Suicide attempt

School

(1633)

–

OV = 349/1633 (21.1%)

F = 187/807 (23.2%)

M = 162/826 (19.6%)

–

–

5/5

Brittain et al.

(2019) [72].

South Africa

Self-harm

&

Attempted suicide

Community (110)

–

Self-harm:

3/110 (3%)

Attempted suicide:

1/110 (0.9%)

–

–

4/5

Darré et al.

(2019) [73].

Togo

Suicide attempt

School

(941)

OV = 46/941 (4.9%)

F = 31/753 (3.3%)

M = 15/188 (1.6%)

–

–

–

3/5

Koyanagi, Oh et al.

(2019) [74].

Cross-national (Benin, Ghana, Malawi,

Mauritania, Mozambique,

Namibia, Seychelles,

Swaziland, & Tanzania).

Suicide attempt

School:

Benin

(1170)

Ghana

(1110)

Malawi

(2224)

Mauritania

(1285)

Mozambique

(668)

Namibia

(1936)

Seychelles

(2061)

Swaziland

(1318)

Tanzania

(2615)

–

Benin:

OV = 337/1170 (28.8%)

F = 104/397 (26.4%)

M = 233/773 (30.1%)

Ghana:

OV = 295/1110 (26.6%)

F = 154/565 (27.5%)

M = 141/545 (25.9%)

Malawi:

OV = 249/2224 (11.2%)

F = 115/1079 (10.7%)

M = 128/1145 (11.2%)

Mauritania:

OV = 227/1285 (17.7%)

F = 98/601 (16.3%)

M = 126/684 (18.4%)

Mozambique:

OV = 112/668 (16.8%)

F = 56/337 (16.7%)

M = 57/331 (17.1%)

–

–

5/5

Koyanagi, Oh et al.

(2019) [74].

Suicide attempt

 

–

Namibia:

OV = 507/1936 (26.2%)

F = 260/1106 (23.5%)

M = 247/830 (29.7%)

Seychelles:

OV = 435/2061 (21.1%)

F = 215/1041 (20.7%)

M = 220/1020 (21.6%)

Swaziland:

OV = 202/1318 (15.3%)

F = 121/803 (15.1%)

M = 78/515 (15.2%)

Tanzania:

OV = 290/2615 (11.1%)

F = 159/1391 (11.4%)

M = 126/1224 (10.3%)

–

–

5/5

Koyanagi, Stubbs et al.

(2019) [75].

Cross-national (including

Benin, Ghana, Mauritania,

Mozambique, Namibia,

Seychelles, Swaziland, & Tanzania).

Suicide attempt

School:

Benin (2690)

Ghana

(1684)

Mauritania

(2063)

Mozambique

(1918)

Namibia

(4531)

Seychelles

(2540)

Swaziland

(3680)

Tanzania

(3793)

–

Benin:

761/2690 (28.3%)

Ghana:

485/1684 (28.8%)

Mauritania:

359/2063 (17.4%)

Mozambique:

363/1918 (18.9%)

Namibia:

1178/4531 (26.0%)

Seychelles:

511/2540 (20.1%)

Swaziland:

607/3680 (16.5%)

Tanzania:

436/3793 (11.5%)

–

–

5/5

Nguyen et al.

(2019) [76].

Cross-national (Nigeria, Uganda, & Zambia).

Self-injury

Households:

Nigeria

(4203)

Uganda

(5804)

Zambia

(1819)

Nigeria:

123/4203 (2.9%)

Uganda:

244/5804 (4.2%)

Zambia:

104/1819 (5.7%)

–

–

–

5/5

Quarshie et al.

(2019) [77].

Ghana

Suicide attempt

College

(305)

OV = 7/305 (2.3%)

F = 6/277 (2.3%)

M = 1/28 (3.6%)

–

–

–

5/5

Shayo & Lawala

(2019) [78].

Tanzania

Suicide attempt

School

(3793)

–

OV = 422/3793 (11.1%)

F = 230/1974 (11.7%)

M = 192/1819 (10.6%)

–

–

5/5

Thornton et al.

(2019) [79].

Cross-national (South Africa & Guyana)

Suicide attempt

Households:

South Africa

(175)

–

–

South Africa:

14/175 (7.4%)

–

2/5

Tolulope et al.

(2019) [80].

Nigeria.

Suicide attempt

School

(1015)

OV = 30/1015 (3%)

–

–

–

4/5

Uddin et al.

(2019) [81].

Cross-national (Benin, Ghana, Malawi,

Mauritania, Mozambique,

Namibia, Swaziland, &

Tanzania).

Suicide attempt

School:

Benin

(2579)

Ghana

(2195)

Malawi

(2191)

Mauritania

(1867)

Mozambique

(1248)

–

Benin:

OV = 720/2579 (27.9%)

F = 254/902 (28.2%)

M = 466/1667 (28%)

Ghana:

OV = 607/2195 (27.7%)

F = 304/1029 (29.5%)

M = 294/1146 (25.7%)

Malawi:

OV = 251/2191 (11.5%)

F = 125/1142 (11%)

M = 118/1015 (11.6%)

–

–

5/5

Uddin et al.

(2019) [81].

Suicide attempt

Namibia

(3235)

Swaziland

(2547)

Tanzania

(2911)

–

Mauritania:

OV = 322/1867 (17.3%)

F = 161/983 (16.4%)

M = 153/866 (17.7%)

Mozambique:

OV = 213/1248 (17.1%)

F = 113/596 (19%)

M = 95/633 (15%)

Namibia:

OV = 836/3235 (25.8%)

F = 432/1795 (24.1%)

M = 390/1409 (27.7%)

Swaziland:

OV = 439/2547 (17.2%)

F = 245/1432 (17.1%)

M = 190/1108 (17.2%)

Tanzania:

OV = 298/2911 (10.2%)

F = 161/1448 (10.9%)

M = 126/1403 (9%)

–

–

5/5

Vancampfort et al.

(2019) [82].

Cross-national (Benin, Ghana, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, & Tanzania)

Suicide attempt

School:

Benin

(1170)

Ghana

(1110)

Mauritania

(1285)

Mozambique

(668)

Namibia

(1936)

–

Benin:

323/1170 (27.6%)

Ghana:

295/1110 (26.6%)

Mauritania:

213/1285 (16.6%)

Mozambique:

114/668 (16.5%)

Namibia:

492/1936 (25.4%)

–

–

5/5

Vancampfort et al.

(2019) [82].

Suicide attempt

Seychelles

(2061)

Tanzania

(2615)

–

Seychelles:

423/2061 (20.5%)

Tanzania:

282/2615 (10.8%)

–

–

5/5

  1. OV Overall estimate
  2. F Female
  3. M Male
  4. SAYRBS South African Youth Risk Behaviour Survey
  5. Gage’s (2013) [25] reported prevalence period was 3 months. Van Rooyen’s (2013) [50] reported prevalence period was 11 months