Suicidal ideation and associated factors among clients of primary care and religious care centers in Thailand

Introduction: Suicidal ideation is a public health concern. The percentage of prevalence of suicidal ideation found among attendees of primary and religious care centers in Thailand is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate suicidal ideation and associated factors among clients of primary care and religious care centers in Thailand. Methods: In a cross-sectional interview survey, 1214 consecutively sampled adult clients from three religious and three primary care centers participated in the study in 2018–2019. They completed information on suicidal ideation, social and demographic factors, chronic conditions, and mental and substance use disorders. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of suicidal ideation. Results: One in ten clients (10.0%) reported suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in clients attending religious compared to primary care, but the difference was not significant. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, depressive disorder (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.49, 3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.86–6.56), anxiety disorder (AOR: 6.03, 95% CI: 2.82–12.95), somatization disorder (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.17–3.53), cancer (AOR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.02–6.50), and sore joints (AOR: 2.24: 95% CI: 1.16–4.31) were positive associated with suicidal ideation, while secondary education (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20–0.77), employed (AOR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.32–0.85), and high social support (AOR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13–0.56) were negatively associated with suicidal ideation. Conclusion: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in clients attending religious care compared to primary care, but the difference was not significant. Factors associated with suicidal ideation include sociodemographic factors, mental disorders, and chronic conditions.