Table 2 Associations with suicidal behaviour (ideation, plan and/or attempt) in the past year

Socio-demographics

 Age (years)

  18–29

1 (Reference)

1 (Reference)

1 (Reference)

–

  30–49

3.88 (1.52, 9.91)**

2.90 (1.05 7.99)*

1.17 (0.76, 1.79)

  50–69

2.56 (1.02, 6.40)*

2.41 (0.90, 6.46)*

1.14 (0.74, 1.75)

 Education

  Secondary or more

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Standard 5–8

0.84 (0.31, 2.27)

1.62 (0.89, 2.95)

  Standard 1–4

0.87 (0.34, 2.25)

1.31 (0.77, 2.24)

  None

1.59 (0.22, 11.75)

0.69 (0.35, 1.37)

 Marital status

  Never married

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Married/cohabiting

1.20 (0.34, 4.27)

1.69 (0.77, 3.70)

  Separated/divorced/widowed

0.59 (0.14, 2.49)

2.00 (0.80, 5.02)

 Employment status

  Nonpaid or unemployed

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Employed or student

1.23 (0.66, 2.27)

0.71 (0.44, 1.16)

 Residence

  Rural

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Urban

0.84 (0.25, 2.86)

1.08 (0.63, 1.86)

 Language of interview

  Tumbuka

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Chewa

0.88 (0.17, 4.57)

1.79 (0.62, 5.18)

  English

1.31 (0.35, 4.85)

2.57 (0.89, 7.41)

Psychosocial distress

 Alcohol family problem

5.09 (2.51, 10.31)***

5.04 (2.18, 11.65)***

3.11 (1.49, 6.49)**

2.75 (1.34, 5.61)**

 Family member attempted suicide

0.98 (0.29, 3.29)

–

2.96 (1.31, 6.66)**

–

 Family member died from suicide

0.50 (0.10, 2.44)

–

3.74 (1.32, 10.64)*

3.33 (1.10, 10.07)*

 Passive smoking

1.80 (0.75, 4.30)

–

1.38 (0.88, 2.18)

–

Physical factors and risk behaviours

 Systolic blood pressure (< 100 mmHg)

0.90 (0.42, 1.97)

–

2.96 (1.31, 6.68)**

0.96 (0.41, 2.18)

 Not taking anti-hypertension medication

0.37 (0.08, 1.71)

–

1.79 (1.01, 3.16)*

1.35 (0.79, 2.30)

 Body mass index

  Normal

1 (Reference)

1 (Reference)

1 (Reference)

–

  Underweight

0.68 (0.23, 2.01)

0.78 (0.29, 2.11)

1.94 (0.94, 4.01)

  Overweight

1.18 (0.57, 2.46)

1.20 (0.52, 2.70)

0.73 (0.41, 1.28)

  Obesity

0.22 (0.05, 0.87)*

0.15 (0.04, 0.67)*

0.68 (0.35, 1.31)

 Diabetes status

  No

1 (Reference)

–

1 (Reference)

–

  Prediabetes

1.20 (0.24, 6.13)

2.46 (0.99, 6.13)

  Diabetes

2.17 (0.43, 10.91)

1.26 (0.37, 4.28)

Raised total cholesterol

1.96 (0.71, 5.36)

–

0.59 (0.35, 1.01)

–

Heart attack, angina or stroke

0.90 (0.30, 2.68)

–

2.36 (1.28, 4.33)**

2.07 (1.17, 3.66)*

Early smoking initiation (≤ 14 years)

8.60 (2.03, 36.45)**

6.20 (0.75, 51.16)

2.01 (0.21, 19.27)

–

Current smokeless tobacco use

0.17 (0.02, 1.58)

–

1.91 (0.89, 4.14)

–

Current alcohol use

1.50 (0.65, 3.42)

–

2.33 (1.05, 5.14)*

1.48 (0.77, 2.83)

Alcohol dependence

1.76 (0.53, 5.80)

–

0.78 (0.15, 3.99)

–

No active transport

0.31 (0.10, 0.98)*

0.36 (0.11, 1.15)

2.62 (1.58, 4.35)***

2.43 (1.46, 4.06)**

Sedentary behaviour

2.64 (0.96, 7.25)

–

1.11 (0.57, 2.27)

–