Prevalence, Risk Factors and Prevention of Depression in the Adult Population in Mbarara District, Uganda

Abstract

Background. This study concerns the prevalence, risk factors and prevention of depression in the adult population in three sub-counties in Mbarara district. Depression is a common mental disorder which presents with a wide array of symptoms including loss of energy, poor sleep, poor eating habits, fatigue, irritability and social withdrawal. The main objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression and to identify measures that can be implemented to reduce risk factors of the disease among adults in Nyamitanga, Rugando and Rwanyamahembe sub-counties in Mbarara district. Methods. A cross-sectional design was used to capture data from a study sample size of 383 participants who were involved in completion of screening tests for depression. Scores from a 7-item version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression were averaged and the probable depression determined for each participant using a cut-off of 1.75. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between depression outcomes and socio-demographic, behavioural and medical history variables. Results. The analyses revealed that the prevalence of depression among adults in the area stands at 27.7%. Depression was significantly associated with discrimination (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.22–4.45, P = 0.010), household size (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.32–0.93, P = 0.026), level of education (primary education: AOR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.15–0.88, P = 0.024; secondary education: AOR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.12–0.76, P = 0.011; tertiary education: AOR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.15–0.92, P = 0.032) and drug-abuse related problems (AOR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.34–14.74, P = 0.015). Measures for reducing the development of depression (which were identified by study participants) include guidance and counselling, awareness campaigns and self-help projects, improved access to quality medical services as well as stress management and spiritual care services. Conclusions. These findings show that depression prevalence in the study area, estimated at 27.7%, is high and worrying. Previous studies carried out in Mbarara district and other parts of Uganda have also reported similarly high estimates. They also show that discrimination, household size, level of education and drug-abuse are important risk factors associated with the prevalence of depressive disorders. Strategies targeted at early interventions and ultimately depression prevention need urgent attention in order to reduce risk factors of the disease.

Health-related quality of life and factors associated with depression among people with oculocutaneous albinism in Jinja , Uganda

“…In our study, the prevalence of depression among people living with oculocutaneous albinism calculated using Hopkins Symptom Checklist 25 for Depression was 65.4%. The founding is higher than the 27.7 % prevalence found by Allen and colleagues in the general population of adult in Mbarara District (Allen et al, 2021); higher than the nationwide overall prevalence of 29.3% for Uganda (Kawachi I., 2006); and also higher than the estimated range for sub-Saharan Africa which stands between 9% and 32% (Ayano, G.et al,2018;Bernard, C.et al,2017). This is similar to the 61% prevalence of depression found in HIV-infected female caregivers living in rural Uganda (Familiar, I.et al).…”

“…region are subject to discrimination(Bradbury-Jones et al, 2018), which was strongly associated with the high prevalence of depression in the study carried out in western Uganda among the general adult population(Allen et al, 2021). The above literature agrees that the prevalence of depression among PWA is high, especially in sub-Saharan countries(AyanoG.et al,2018;Bernard C.et al,2017).…”

“…Overall, sociodemographic factors including age, gender, and marital status were strongly associated with depression across low and high-income countries (Kessler &Bromet, 2013). Apart from sociodemographic factors, other factors have also been detected as being strongly associated with depression, such as discrimination, low level of education, substance abuse, large household size, presence of a chronic disease, and long-term treatment (Allen et al, 2021). Considering the discrimination due to misconceptions about albinism as well as the vulnerability to dermatological diseases, makes it important to study the prevalence and factors that are associated with depression among PWA.…”

“…In this study, the factors that we looked at were age, gender, marital status, number of children, level of education, employment status ,family support and income. Discrimination, having a chronic medical condition, and long-term therapy are some of the other factors that have been associated with low or bad quality of life and depression in the general population and among PWA (Allen et al, 2021), (Ajose et al, 2014a) and Benin region in Nigeria (Madubuko, 2016). In the case of this study, other associated factors referred to discrimination, substance abuse, chronic medical conditions, household size, long-time treatment, history of mental health in the family and severe skin complications such as skin cancers.…”

Factors associated with the prevalence of depression among people with oculocutaneous albinism in Jinja,Uganda.A cross sectional study

“…Albinism is among the earliest recognized genetic diseases (Jambrun,1991).People with oculocutaneous albinism(PWA) faced physical and psychological challenges mainly as a result of myths from different cultures and beliefs 1 .In Africa PWA have been victims of all the evils of the world, including killing,physical pain, mutilation, psychological distress, and social exclusion, just because of having albinism 2,3 .Among the mental illnesses that people with chronic dermatological disorders including PWA encounter, depression has been the most prevalent in studies carried out in African and Asian countries 4,5,6 .Depression is expected to be the major contributor to the disease burden and the second leading cause of world disability in both developed and developing countries by 2030 7 .In almost all communities in the world, there are common factors that are associated with depression, although with nuances for certain factors and certain regions 8 .Considering the discrimination due to misconceptions about albinism as well as the vulnerability to dermatological diseases, makes it important to study the prevalence of depression among PWA 9,10 Socio-demographics are group-related characteristics de ned by sociological and demographic characteristics 11 .Depression was strongly associated with being younger and experiencing severe pain in both sexes in a cross-sectional study conducted in France 12 .The prevalence of major depression in women with albinism is twice that of men 13 .This is independent of the tool used to assess depression, the methodology, and the site area of research 14 .In relation to this, women have been reported to be at an increased risk of developing major depression 15 .Divorced and separated people have a higher prevalence of major depression than married people 8 .Major depression generally goes down with age in low and middle-income conversely in high-income countries 8 .This has been con rmed in the research carried out among school going adolescents in central Uganda 16 ).Older people who had trouble with basic daily tasks and instrumental daily activities were 2.53 times more likely to have serious depression than those who had no problem 17 .Study investigated the association of social and economic status support with major depression among community-dwellers in India. Other factors within the scope of this study include discrimination, drug and substance abuse, severe dermatological conditions, and chronic general medical and psychiatric conditions 18 .All these factors have been associated with depression both among the general population and among PWA.…”