Background. Depression is the most prevalent mental disorder among prisoners and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Depression affects more for those who are less educated, female, single, and young prisoners, and worldwide prevalence of depression among prisoners is 10.2% and 14% for male and female prisoners, respectively. However, a study conducted on prevalence of depression and associated factors is scarce in Ethiopia (Tigray) despite there is high magnitude. Methodology. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 414 prisoners in Mekelle General Prison Center. Data were collected from April to May 2019. A structured and standardized data collection tool (PHQ-9) was used. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out by SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was determined at P value < 0.05. Result. In this study, 408 prisoners had participated. The prevalence of depression among prisoners was found to be 228 (55.9%; 95% CI: 51.2%, 61%). Being unemployed and student, lifetime substance use, history of child abuse, weight loss in prison, quality of meal in prison, being not happy inside prison, being sentenced for more than six years, and poor and moderate social support were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion. Prevalence of depression among prisoners was found to be high (55.9%). Prisoners who had lifetime substance use, being unemployed and student, history of childhood abuse, weight loss inside prison, being sentenced for more than six years, not happy inside prison, lack of social support, and poor quality of prison meal were more likely to have depression. Thus, giving training to strengthen social support, giving training on how to cope up with prison environment, giving training to scale up a happy life, and improving quality of prison meal as well as mental health service will help to reduce the problem. Conducting interventional study is relevant.

Background delirium is an acute reversible mental disorder characterized by disturbance in consciousness, confusion, disorientation and agitation. Although delirium more affects older patients and patients in intensive care unit the problem is also prevalent among all hospitalized patients with the range 10–60%. Objective the aim of the study is to assess the prevalence and associated factors of delirium among hospitalized patients in Mekelle public hospitals, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methodology an institution based cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 368 hospitalized patients in Mekelle public hospitals. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the participants and proportional allocation was made to each public hospitals. Structured and standardized data collection tool was used. Univariate, bivarite and multivariable analysis was carried out by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20. Statistical significance was determined at p-value 0.05. Result in this study 358 participants were interviewed which makes 97.3% response rate. The prevalence rate of delirium among hospitalized patients was found to be 45 (12.6%). Older age (60 years and above), previous cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, having anxiety disorder and being single were significantly associated with delirium in multivariate logistic regression. Conclusion the prevalence of delirium was high among Mekelle public hospitals inpatients. Older age (60 years and above), previous cognitive impairment, sensory impairment, having anxiety disorder and being single were significantly associated with delirium.