Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression among Orphan Adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Orphan adolescents are a special group of people who are generally deprived and prone to develop psychiatric disorder even if reared in a well-run institution. Objective To assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among orphan adolescents living in Addis Ababa orphan centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 among 453 orphan adolescents in Ethiopia. All orphan adolescents who were living in the selected orphan centers were included in the study. The data was collected by interviewing the orphan adolescents at the orphan center by using a structured questionnaire. Kocher adolescent depression scale and MSPSS scale were used to measure orphan level of depression and their perceived social support. After appropriate coding, the collected data had been entered into EPI info version 7 and it was exported to SPSS version 20 for further analysis. The OR with 95% CI was used to measure association and p value < 0.05 was used as statistically significant value in multivariable binary logistic regressions. Result The overall prevalence of depression among the orphan adolescents was found to be 36.4%. The majority of the respondents, 302 (66.7%), were within the age range of 15-19 years. Perceived social support (OR 5.86; 95% CI 3.47, 9.91), community discrimination (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.58, 4.56), length of stay (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.08, 3.35), age of entrance (OR 2.21; 95% CI 1.32, 3.69), and presence of visitors (OR 3.62; 95% CI 2.06, 6.37) were the main variables associated with depression. Conclusion The prevalence of depression among orphan adolescents was found to be high. Low level of social support, higher length of stay, community discrimination, the presence of visitors, and younger age of entrance were statistically significant variables to develop depression.

Depressive symptoms among orphans and vulnerable adolescents in childcare homes in Nepal: a cross-sectional study

“…Being female, drinking alcohol, presence of congenital diseases, low social support, and getting bullied were found to be factors significantly associated with depressive symptoms among this population. The presence rate of depressive symptoms found in the current study was lower compared with the presences reported by studies among adolescents in Ethiopia (36.4%) [29], India (46.0-53.0%) [30], and the Gaza Strip 67.9% [12], which are also developing countries. In the developed country of Japan, 43.3% [31] of children in residential foster care were found to have depressive symptoms; however, a systematic review reported that the prevalence of the depressive disorder in children in the Japanese child welfare system was 11.0% [32].…”

“…The variations in the presences of depressive symptoms found in these studies can partly be explained by differences in sample size, study population, and different methods of assessment. Most of the studies [29,30] considered only the orphan population, whereas the current study included all children or adolescents living in CCHs, which more accurately reflects the true situation in a Nepalese context. Moreover, there were variations in the criteria used to categorize depression and in the depression measurement tools.…”

<p>Anxiety, Depression, Stress, and Decision-Making Among Orphans and Non-Orphans in Pakistan</p>

“…Similarly, orphan children as compared to nonorphans are more vulnerable to severe depression and are at risk of what appears to be clinical depression. 9,40 These findings are corroborated in existing literature in which orphaned children living in the Gaza strip had considerable posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. 31 Likewise, another study confirmed high prevalence of depression among orphans and identified low level of social support, higher length of stay, community discrimination, the presence of visitors, and younger age of entrance were statistically significant variables to develop depression.…”

“…and non-orphans decision-making skills are hindered by feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem while interacting with others in social settings. 18,[37][38][39] In the present study, there is significant correlation of stress and depression with decision-making. Similarly, orphan children as compared to nonorphans are more vulnerable to severe depression and are at risk of what appears to be clinical depression.…”

“…7 World Health Organization (WHO) defines depression as a common mental disorder in which symptoms include depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, and poor concentration. 8 Depression prevalence among the orphan adolescents was found to be 36.4%, 9 with physical ailments such as digestive problems, sleep disorders, feelings of boredom and helplessness, and social isolation.…”