Suicidality in Prison: Effect of Religiosity on Suicidal Ideation at Agodi Prison in Ibadan, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT : Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in jail and prison, worldwide. It accounts for more than fifty percent of all deaths within correctional institutions. The average suicide rate in prisons globally falls between 24-89 per 100,000 inmates. But despite this stark reality, research examining its precursors such as suicidal ideation and attempt among this vulnerable population remains limited, especially in the developing nations. To fill this gap, this study examined the effect of religiosity on suicidal ideation among inmates at Agodi prison in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design with a quantitative approach. The population of study included all the inmates incarcerated at Agodi Correctional Center in Nigeria at the time of data collection, which was about 1,500, from where a sample size of 150 was drawn. The correctional center was chosen based on purposive sampling considering accessibility, population size, and research team cooperation. The quantitative information collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

RESULTS : Religiosity is associated with less suicidal ideation.