Suicide attempts in Bangladesh: Prevalence, trends, and disparities

Abstract

Suicide attempts are a major public health issue, influenced by a range of factors. Assessing the prevalence of suicide attempts in Bangladesh is crucial for understanding the country's mental health landscape. We searched multiple databases and included 11 articles in the meta-analysis. We used a random-effects model to pool prevalence data. We assessed between-study heterogeneity through the Q-test and I² statistics and conducted subgroup analyses. To evaluate potential publication bias, we utilized a funnel plot and Egger's test. Additionally, meta-regression was performed to identify sources of heterogeneity, while sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in Bangladesh was 4.25 % (95 % CI: 2.28–6.22). The prevalence among males was 3.36 %, while females had a higher prevalence of 4.17 %. The pooled odds ratio for the risk of suicide attempts among females was 1.16 (95 % CI: 0.41–1.91), implying that females were at higher risk than males. We found that the pooled prevalence of suicide attempts among individuals aged 18 and above was 3.42 %. The analysis also uncovered a concerning upward trend in suicide attempts over recent years. The prevalence stood at 3.88 % from 2010 to 2016 and increased to 4.29 % between 2017 and 2023. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in Bangladesh revealed significant gender disparities, and a concerning upward trend in recent years, underscoring an urgent need for attention.