Suicidal behavior, depression, generalized anxiety and associated factors among a national sample of adults in Mozambique in 2022 to 2023

Background: The study’s objective was to assess adult Mozambicans’ past 12-month suicidal behavior (PSB), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: Data from 10,074 women (aged 20–49 years) and 3,941 men (aged 20–54 years) that participated in the 2022 to 2023 Mozambique Demographic and health Survey were analyzed. Results: The prevalence of PSB among women (attempt 1.0%, plan 1.8%, and ideation 4.2%) was 4.6% and among men (attempt 0.6%, plan 1.6%, and ideation 3.1%) was 3.4%. Among women and men, the prevalence of MDD was 10.6% and 2.3%, respectively, and the prevalence of GAD was 11.9% and 2.3%, respectively. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, among women and men, MDD was positively and being married or cohabiting was negatively associated with PSB, while among women being HIV positive and among men history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) were positively associated with PSB. Among women and men, having a history of STI was positively, and currently working was negatively associated with MDD. In addition, among women, low dietary diversity and ‘big problem to get money for medical treatment’ were positively, and among men, having hypertension, lung disease, and early sexual debut were associated with MDD. Among women, having a history of STI, low dietary diversity, ‘big problem to get money for medical treatment’, and the use of solid cooking fuel were positively, and currently working and early sexual debut were negatively associated with GAD. Among men, having hypertension and having been diagnosed with lung disease were positively associated with GAD. Conclusion: Almost 4% of participants had PSB, among women more than 10% had MDD and GAD, respectively, and among men more than 2% had MDD and GAD, respectively. Public health interventions can be guided by a number of associated factors that have been identified.