Exploring Suicidal Ideation among Pregnant Women in Nigeria: Impact of adverse childhood experiences and resilience

Abstract

Background: With sustained attention toward preventing suicide, there is an increased need for baseline data on the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours among the underrepresented population in suicide literature – pregnant women. This study examined the prevalence and the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and resilience in suicidal ideation among pregnant women.

Material And Method: This study employed a cross-sectional research design and was conducted between January and April 2022. A total of 412 pregnant women were recruited through accidental sampling from six selected hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. Data were collected by using the Beck Suicide Scale (B.S.S.), Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACEIQ), and Brief Resilience Scale (B.R.S.). The Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) Version 24 was used to analyse the data.

Result: The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the study participants was 5.8% with older pregnant women (31-50 Years) reporting significantly higher scores on suicidal ideation [t (410) = -2.23, p<.05) compared to younger pregnant women (18-30 years). Among the pregnant women, the result revealed a significant positive relationship between adverse childhood experiences and Suicidal ideation (r= .32, p><.01), while Adverse childhood experience, resilience, and age jointly predicted Suicidal ideation (R² = 0.11, F (3,408) = 15.91, p >< .01) with no statistically significant relationship between resilience and suicidal ideation.

Conclusion: We recommend incorporating suicidal ideation screening and psychoeducation into the ante-natal clinic programme for pregnant women as preventive measures against suicide.