Self-inflicted injuries among adolescents: Prevalence and associated factors, Espírito Santo, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To identify the prevalence of notified self-inflicted injuries among adolescents in Espírito Santo and to analyze the associated factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional and analytical study, with the notified data of self-inflicted violence among adolescents in Espírito Santo registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System from 2011 to 2018. The bivariate analyses considered the Chi-square (χ²) and Fisher’s Exact tests. The multivariate analysis considered the log-binomial model, and the adjustment results were presented as prevalence ratio. Results: The prevalence of notified self-inflicted injuries was 33 % and, of this total, 79.8 % occurred among female adolescents. Prevalence was higher among adolescents aged from 13 to 17 years old (female gender) and from 18 to 19 years old (male gender), as well as among those with some disability or disorder. Higher prevalence values were found in the residence and in collective housing, as well as among those who did not consume alcohol at the event in question. In the female gender, there was also an association with the urban area (p < 0.05). Conclusions: High prevalence of notified self-inflicted injuries is perceived among adolescents in Espírito Santo, as well as of the factors associated to this phenomenon. The importance of adopting promotion, prevention and recovery measures for the problem is verified.