Abstract:
Background: The suicide mortality rate of the elderly in Thailand rose by 9.7% from 2008 to 2018. While the suicide mortality rate in Bangkok rose 61.1% in 5 years. There had been no recent research to estimate the suicidal idea prevalence and its association in the elderly living in Bangkok.
Methods: A secondary data analysis of 1,454 elderly, registered in the elderly clubs, was conducted. General characteristics, depression, suicidal idea, loneliness, and QoL were collected with standard questionnaires. SPSS Statistics Version 21 was used. This analysis had an ethics review from Health Science Group, Chulalongkorn University (COA No.054/2563).
Results: The prevalence of suicidal idea in the elderly living in Bangkok was 6.46%. Depression (aOR = 12.5, 95% CI = 7.50 – 20.84), poor QoL (aOR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.93 -5.15), and loneliness (aOR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.02 - 2.85) were significantly associated with suicidal idea.
Conclusion: The prevalence of suicidal idea in the elderly was higher than Chiang Rai, Thailand, China and Taiwan. Suicide prevention should focus on depression, quality of life. and loneliness.
