Prevalence of Depression by Zung Self - Rating D Epression Scale Among Computer Engineering Students and Teaching Staff of Gulbarga City

Abstract

The occupational hazards of computer use are much more serious and disabling than any other occupation. Health problems in computer users appear to be interrelated and they are musculoskeletal, visual, stress and depression related. 1 OBJECTIVES: 1) To find the prevalence of depression among computer engineering students and teaching staff in Gulbarga city. 2) To suggest remedial measures for prevention of depression among study subjects. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted among all 319 third year computer engineering students and 79 teaching staff in all 4 Engineering colleges of Gulbarga city for 1year from January 2011 to December 2011. The study subjects were interviewed using pre-designed and pretested proforma including Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. RESULTS: In our study majority (75.37%) of study subjects belonged to 20-22 years age studying B.E Computer science and 274(68.84%) were females and 124(31.15%) were males. Amongst study subjects mild depression were more common who works on computer for 6-9hr for more than 9years 7(1.75%). CONCLUSION: In our study mild depression is more common in students working on computer for 6-9hr for more than 9years which accumulate over a period of time resulting in severe depression affecting physical and mental health.