Suicide during pregnancy as a major contributor to maternal suicide among female sex workers in eight low- and middle-income countries: A community knowledge approach investigation
Studies indicate a high burden of mental health disorders among female sex workers (FSWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite available data on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among FSWs, little is known about suicide deaths in this hard-to-reach population. This study aims t...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124000748/type/journal_article |
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| Summary: | Studies indicate a high burden of mental health disorders among female sex workers (FSWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite available data on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among FSWs, little is known about suicide deaths in this hard-to-reach population. This study aims to examine the extent to which suicide is a cause of maternal mortality among FSWs, the contexts in which suicides occur, and the methods used. From January to October 2019, the Community Knowledge Approach method for identifying cause-specific deaths in communities was employed across eight LMICs (Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa). A total of one thousand two hundred eighty FSWs provided detailed reports on two thousand one hundred twelve FSW deaths in the preceding 5 years, including 288 (13.6%) suicides, 178 (61.8%) of which were maternal. Of these maternal suicides, 57.9% occurred during pregnancy (antepartum), 20.2% within two months of delivery (puerperium), and 21.9% in the 2–12 months following delivery (postpartum). The highest proportion of suicides occurred in Nigeria, Kenya, and DRC in sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 504 children lost their mothers to suicide. Further research is needed to identify interventions for suicide risk among FSW mothers. |
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| ISSN: | 2054-4251 |