Suicidal ideation, attempted suicide and determinants among prisoners in Ethiopia 2024: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Apr 28;25(1):426. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-06869-2.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Prisoners face severe restrictions on freedom and social connections, negatively impacting their mental health and increasing suicidal thoughts and attempts. Suicide is a significant public health concern, with rates among inmates much higher than in the general population. Research indicates that suicidal ideation is common among convicts. Despite the alarming prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among inmates, many countries lack comprehensive data on prison suicides, highlighting the need for targeted preventive strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesize findings of different studies and pool them to provide a comprehensive figure of suicidal ideation and attempts among prisoners and to inform policymakers on improving health services for vulnerable inmates.

OBJECTIVE: This study comprehensively assessed and pooled the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts and the effect size of determinants among prisoners in Ethiopia.

METHODS: Systematic searches for observational studies were conducted in various databases, including PubMed (MEDLINE), CINAHL (EBSCO), Embase, Web of Science, HINARI, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Mednar, and the Cochrane Library. Observational studies involving inmates from 2015 to 2024 were included, except those who fulfill exclusion criteria. Four research groups independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. Nine studies involving 4435 prisoners were included. A meta-analysis using random-effects models was performed.

RESULTS: A total of nine studies involving 4435 study participants were included in the review. This study of studies revealed that the pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide among prisoners in Ethiopia was 23.28% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 12.26%, 34.29%) and 10.20% (95% CI: 8.63%, 11.78%), respectively. Depression, poor social support, suicidal history, and previous mental illness were significantly associated. Statistically significant heterogeneity across included studies was found both for suicidal ideation (I² = 98.74%, p ≤ 0.001) and suicidal attempts (I² = 73.05%, p ≤ 0.001). Egger’s test revealed publication bias in studies on suicidal ideation (p = 0.001) but not in studies on suicidal attempts (p = 0.271).

CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among prisoners. These public health problems are significantly determined by depression, poor social support, mental illness, and family history of suicide. The review advocates for integrating mental health services in prisons, including routine screenings, while emphasizing the need to combat the marginalization of prisoners for meaningful change.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol for this study was submitted and registered in PROSPERO on 03 May 2024, and the first version of this protocol was published on 14 May 2024 with the PROSPERO ID of CRD42024542958.

PMID:40296065 | DOI:10.1186/s12888-025-06869-2