title: Age, gender and suicidal ideation following voluntary HIV counseling and testing.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation in patients who were tested for HIV-infection and whether along with their HIV status, age and gender influenced their risk for suicidal ideation. The sample consisted of 189 patients who attended a voluntary HIV counseling and testing clinic (VCT) at a general state hospital in Durban, South Africa. Their mean age at baseline was 34.2 years, with an age range of between 16-79 years. Seropositivity, age and gender were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The majority of these patients were in the younger age group, and young males had a 1.8 times higher risk for suicidal ideation than females. Although risk factors for seropositive-related suicidal ideation can be complex and multi-factorial, this study identified a young age and male gender as important high risk factors in the sample studied. It is recommended that all, but especially young male HIV-infected patients seen at a VCT clinic be screened for suicidal ideation and that early intervention to prevent subsequent suicides or suicidal attempts be included in pre- and post-test HIV counseling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioural Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa. schlebuschl@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: Lourens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schlebusch
authors.forename: Romona Devi
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Govender
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D055815:Young Adult