@article{ref1,
title="Suicidality among gender minorities in Karnataka, South India",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2021",
author="Bhattacharjee, Parinita and Isac, Shajy and Halli, Shiva S. and Blanchard, James and Lorway, Robert and Ramesh, B. M. and Dutta, Sumit",
volume="21",
number="1",
pages="e25-e25",
abstract="BACKGROUND: It is argued that Indian gender minorities displayed differential mental health problems and suicide attempts. Hence, the study was intended to understand  the prevalence of anxiety, depression and suicidality among this group, specifically  those living in a metropolitan city in South India. <br><br>METHODS: The data was generated  from a cross-sectional study that employed a structured questionnaire to collect  information about experiences of anxiety, depression and suicidal behavior among  gender-diverse individuals in Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka state. The  study used stratified simple random sampling of eligible individuals who were  18 years of age and older and who were enrolled in an HIV prevention program  implemented for gender-diverse individuals run by the Karnataka Health Promotion  Trust and the University of Manitoba at the time of the study (2012). Bivariate and  multivariate analyses were used to assess the relative contribution of various  factors that affect suicide ideation or actual attempts among the gender diverse  participants. <br><br>RESULTS: Results showed that 62% whose main source of income was Basti  (socially sanctioned practice of begging), 52% of Hijras, 56% who lived with their  Gurus, 58% who were not happy with their physical appearance, 55% who consumed  alcohol daily, and 63% who experienced high depression had ever thought of or  attempted suicide in the month prior to the survey. However, multivariate analysis  showed that respondents who were not happy with their physical appearance and  thought of changing it had significantly higher odds (AOR = 2.861; CI 1.468,5.576;  p = 0.002) of either having thoughts that it was better being dead or wished they  died. Similarly, those who experienced high depression, their odds of either having  had thoughts of or having attempted suicide increased by three times (AOR = 3.997;  CI 1.976, 8.071; p < 0.000). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: It is observed that a high percentage of  gender minorities had attempted suicide or thought of suicide during the month  preceding the data collection. The findings bring new insights on the proximate  determinant of physical appearance on the suicidality of gender minorities assigned  male at birth and appropriate to account for this while addressing the mental health  issues.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/s12888-021-03043-2",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03043-2"
}