SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA: TRINGULATION OF METHODS
Anthony C. Ugwuoke (Ph.D.)
Health Department Nkanu West Local Government Area,
Enugu state
Abstract
The study examined suicidal ideation among in-school adolescent in Enugu state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was used to execute the study. One research question was posed while the hypothesis that was formulated to guide the study was tested at .05 level of significance. The population for the study was 148,028 in-school adolescents in secondary schools owned by Enugu State Government. The 2,112 sample was selected through multistage sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire (I-SASIQ) and focus group discussion (SIFGD) were utilized to generate data for the study. These instruments were validated by five experts. The I-SASIQ reliability was determined using split half method.The reliability index of .80 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and its internal consistency of .70 was established using Cronbach’s Alpha. Mean and standard deviation were utilized to answer the research question whereas z-Test was used to verify the hypothesis. Findings showed that suicidal ideation was low ( 1.17; SD=.54) among in-school adolescents in Enugu state. z-Test indicated that gender (z-Test;df=1798;p-val= .04< .05 level of significance) made statistically significant difference on suicidal ideation among the respondents. Based on the results, it was recommended that intervention strategies should be developed to prevent suicidal ideation from assuming epidemic proportion among in-school adolescents in Enugu state.
Key words: suicidal ideation, adolescents, in-school adolescents and triangulation