Prevalence and factors associated to depression among Debrebirhan University students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Undiagnosed depression among university students has an adverse effect on the wellbeing and academic performance of students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among Debre Birhan university students. Methodology: Institutional based cross-sectional study design is conducted in Debre Birhan University from April to June 2013 E.C. Three hundred sixty nine students participated in this study which was selected by simple random sampling technique. Data were collected by using a self-administered PHQ-9 standard depression questionnaire. First the data was entered into in Epidata 3.1 and then was exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Associated factors were identified using binary logistic regression and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were declared as statistically significant factors with the outcome variables. Result: All of the study subjects were between ages 18 and 33 with a mean age of 22.65 9 ± 2.78. The overall prevalence of depression is 17.1%. Among this according to PHQ-9 scores cut scores, 161(43.6 %) scored as normal (0–4), 145(39.3%) scored as mild (5–9), 53(14.4%) scored as moderate (10–14), 4(1.1%) scored as moderately severe (15–19) and 6(1.6%) students scored as sever (> 20). In multivariate analysis being female AOR = 9.28[3.47–24.81], academic year AOR = 0.236[0.059–0.936], smoking 26.3[9.33–74.1] and alcohol use AOR of 2.62[0.95–7.21] are significantly associated with depression. Conclusion and recommendation: This study found a considerable proportion of undergraduate students with depression. Higher institutions need to pay special attention to students especially those who are female, junior students, smokers and alcohol users.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among Ethiopian students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The included studies were published between 2015 and 2022 in which 11 studies were published after 2019 and the other remaining 6 studies were published before 2019. The primary studies included in this review were conducted in the five regions of Ethiopia; four studies were conducted in Addis Ababa, 55–58 six studies were done in Amhara, 32 59–63 four were in Oromia, 33 64–66 two were from South Nation Nationality and Peoples 67 68 and the other one study was conducted in Tigray region. 69 A total of 8798 participants were included in this review, with sample sizes ranging from 265 62 to 1040.…”

“… 69 A total of 8798 participants were included in this review, with sample sizes ranging from 265 62 to 1040. 65 Regarding the level of education, 12 studies were done among university students, 32 33 57 60 61 63–66 68 70 71 2 articles were conducted from college students 58 67 and the other 3 studies were conducted among high school students. 59 62 69 Out of 17 included primary articles, 4 studies were conducted using PHQ-9, 32 59 67 69 the other 5 studies by using BDI-II, 61 63 65 66 70 4r studies were done using DASS-21, 33 58 60 62 3 studies using CES-D 56 64 68 and the remaining 1 study was conducted using HADS.…”

“… 65 Regarding the level of education, 12 studies were done among university students, 32 33 57 60 61 63–66 68 70 71 2 articles were conducted from college students 58 67 and the other 3 studies were conducted among high school students. 59 62 69 Out of 17 included primary articles, 4 studies were conducted using PHQ-9, 32 59 67 69 the other 5 studies by using BDI-II, 61 63 65 66 70 4r studies were done using DASS-21, 33 58 60 62 3 studies using CES-D 56 64 68 and the remaining 1 study was conducted using HADS. 57 Those studies included in this review were cross-sectional studies and their prevalence rate ranged from 17.1% 32 to 52.3% 33 ( table 1 ).…”

“… 59 62 69 Out of 17 included primary articles, 4 studies were conducted using PHQ-9, 32 59 67 69 the other 5 studies by using BDI-II, 61 63 65 66 70 4r studies were done using DASS-21, 33 58 60 62 3 studies using CES-D 56 64 68 and the remaining 1 study was conducted using HADS. 57 Those studies included in this review were cross-sectional studies and their prevalence rate ranged from 17.1% 32 to 52.3% 33 ( table 1 ).…”

“… 31 Although there were insufficient data obtained from an all-over-the-nation study to estimate the prevalence of depression in Ethiopia, a study conducted using the findings of the national health survey and a 2012 report by the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health revealed that the prevalence of depression in Ethiopia was 9.1% and 5%, respectively. The prevalence of depression among students in Ethiopia varied and ranged from 17.1% 32 to 52.3%. 33 …”