Predisposing Factors to Mental and Suicidal Behaviors among Students of Kenya Medical Training College Zone

Aims: The objectives of the study were: to determine suicide and substance abuse rate among college students within KMTC colleges in zone six; to establish psychosocial factors that influence mental and suicide distress among KMTC students in the mentioned zone; and to analyze the relationship between the psychosocial factors and suicide & substance rates among KMTC students in zone six.

Methods: The study employed descriptive and inferential research design and collected both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection instruments were interviews among students, focus group discussion and questionnaires.

Study Sample: The study target population was at zone six colleges with population sample size of 289.

Data Analysis: The collected data was analyzed by use of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26.0. Data was presented in form of tables and figures.

Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Kenya Medical Training college, a structured self-administered questionnaire (SRQ 20) and suicidal ideation was assessed using semi structured yes/no question face to face interview. Stratified multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants from respective campuses from a randomly selected zone. Ethical clearance was considered due to the sensitivity of the matter; clearance from respective authorities were obtained before actual data collection were done.

Results: All of the respondents agreed to more than 50% on the factors that lead to suicide ideation. From the findings, 51.8% respondents agreed that the use Tobacco and its products (cigarette, chewing tobacco, cigars etc) affects their health, legal, social and cost financial problems weekly, 20.5 % once or twice 9.1% monthly 9.5% daily. Also 90.9% of the students agreed that Alcohol beverages (beer, wines, spirits etc) has caused health, legal, social and financial problems on a daily basis, 2.7% once or twice, 1.4% weekly and 15% never affected by alcohol.

Conclusions and Recommendations: The study recommends that the government should develop an authority to handle suicide and mental health related issues. The authority should be seriously funded like case of HIV-AIDS. The authority should be able to establish adequate policy for the involvement of the society. Its policies should result in re-establishment of positive social norms, as currently norms seem to be dwindling slowly by slowly. This change in norms is likely to change society to prevent causes and effects of suicide, making the society view the phenomena differently and positively. The proposal was approved by the college research committee. Confidentiality of the participants was highly observed. In addition, the researcher-maintained anonymity of the respondents upon obtaining a written consent based on an elaborate explanation of the study.