Abuso Y Suicidio

www.medigraphic.org.mx

EL ABUSO SEXUAL Y EL INTENTO SUICIDA ASOCIADOS
CON EL MALESTAR DEPRESIVO Y LA IDEACIÓN
SUICIDA DE LOS ADOLESCENTES

Catalina González-Forteza*, Luciana Ramos Lira*, Luz Elena Vignau Brambila*, Claudia Ramírez Villarreal*

SUMMARY
Recent studies have showed that suicide behavior is present in
students of junior and senior high school. In Mexico City, aprevalence of 4.3% in men and 12.1% in women has been
reported. The motivations for suicide attempt are multiple, and
sexual abuse has been recognized as one of them. This problem
has been scarcely documented in students in our country.
Nevertheless, a prevalence of 4.3% has been found in junior and
senior high school students of both sexes. The present paper
explores the association between suicideattempt and sexual abuse,
and the impact that these problems can cause in the current mental
health of the students, particularly in terms of depression and
suicide ideation.
The objective is to identify in a population of two junior
high schools in the downtown area of Mexico City: 1) the
frequency of sexual abuse and suicide attempt experienced once
in a lifetime; 2) the frequency ofcurrent depression and suicide
ideation; 3) the association between sexual abuse and suicide
attempt with current depression and suicide ideation; and 4)
the frequency of current depression and suicide ideation in
students that reported sexual abuse or suicide attempt.
A total of 936 students participated: 54% men and 46%
women, with a mean age of 13.7 years. A survey was performed
with thepermission of the Ministry of Education and the
school authorities. The instrument was self-administered. The
participation was voluntary, and confidentiality and anonymity
were assured.
The results show that 7% of the women and 2% of the men
had experienced sexual abuse, and that 11% of the women and
4% of the men had attempted to commit suicide. Among the
male population, there were nocases of sexual abuse nor suicide
attempt; but among the female population, from 49 girls that
had attempted to commit suicide, 12% had also been victims of
sexual abuse. Most of the cases reported that sexual abuse was
experienced when they were around 10 years old and the suicide
attempt was committed when they were around 12 years old.
The frequency of current depression and suicideattempt were
14% and 15%, respectively in men and in women, 18% in both

indicators. The association between sexual abuse and suicide
attempt, and the indicators of current emotional problems was
statistically significant. In men with suicide attempt, 50%
showed current depression and suicide ideation; in women with
sexual abuse and suicide attempt, the frequency was 67%. These
results arediscussed with the aim of making evident the need
to establish preventive strategies for the early detection and
the promotion of emotional health among the school
population.
Key words: Adolescents, depression, sexual abuse, suicidal
ideation, suicide attempt.

RESUMEN
En 1998 se detectó en el Distrito Federal la conducta suicida de
la población estudiantil de secundaria y bachillerato, osu equivalente, en 4.3% de los hombres y 12.1% de las mujeres. Los motivos de esta conducta pueden ser múltiples; entre ellos se encuentra el abuso sexual, que aunque ha sido poco investigado en nuestro país entre la población escolar, se ha reportado una prevalencia de 4.3% entre los estudiantes de secundaria y bachillerato de
ambos sexos. Este artículo pretende explorar la asociación que
hayentre ambos fenómenos, y saber cómo influye en la salud
mental de los estudiantes de secundaria, en lo referente al malestar depresivo y la ideación suicida.
Por lo anterior se llevó a cabo un estudio en dos secundarias
del Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México. Participaron 936
alumnos de los cuales 54% eran varones y 46% mujeres, de 13.7
años en promedio. Se hizo una encuesta con el...