(092) DESCRIPTIVE SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC STUDY AND VARIABLES RELATED TO SUICIDE IN A SAMPLE OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE SEEKING TREATMENT AT A PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT CLINIC IN SãO PAULO, BRAZIL
Authors: Garcia Varga De Sobral F , De Tubino Scanavino M , Do Espirito Santo Gonçalves P , Marques Dos Anjos R 
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Sexual violence, a complex and often underreported phenomenon in victim assistance services, carries the severe risk of suicide, directly impacting public health management and underscoring the necessity for prevalence studies to guide intervention and prevention efforts.

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic factors and suicide risk among victims of sexual violence.

Methods

Cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study with a sample of 54 participants. Of these, 5 (9.26%) were male and 49 (90.74%) were female. Participants underwent a sociodemographic interview, application of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS Lifetime/Recent version), and a standardized diagnostic interview Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Data were collected between 2021 and 2024. People aged 14 and older with satisfactory cognitive capacity to understand the instruments were included, while participants with acute psychotic symptoms presenting delusional ideation, hallucinations that could impair and hinder the application of the research instruments were excluded.

Results

In the descriptive analysis conducted using STATA, sociodemographic data showed that the average age among women was 32 years (SD 10.14) and among men was 28 years (SD 8.23) (p = 0.35). Education level in elementary school, high school and college was, respectively, 55.10%, 22.45% and 22.45% for women, and 40%, 60%, and 0%) for men (p = 0.23). Regardind marital status, it was married or common law, single, and separated or divorced, respectively, 34.04%, 55.32%, and 10.64% for women; and 0%, 59.62%, and 9.62% for men (p = 0.25). Regardingsuicidal behavior, 65.22% of women reported suicidal ideation with planning during their lifetime, while 50% of men reported it (p = 0.61). In terms of suicide attempts, 59.18% of women had at least one suicide attempt during their lifetime, compared to 40% of men (p = 0.64). Regarding suicidal risk, it was present in 73.47% for women and 60% for men (p = 0.61). Regarding multivariate logistic regression, lower levels of education were statistically significantly associated with suicide risk (p-value 0.007), while gender, and marital status did not show statistically significant associations.

Conclusions

The study conducted a brief screening of sociodemographic data and suicide risk among men and women sexual violence victims, seeking help for mental health difficulties. The results show no significant differences between men and women according sociodemographic and suicide variables. Those with lower level of education showed higher risks for suicide. Further studies with more representative male sample or with a control group will help to increase evidences. Those data suggests a greater vulnerability to sexual violence victims with low schooling for suicide risk, meaning it is a group that needs different interventions. Psychoeducation potentially can have a special role for them.

Disclosure

No.