DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND CORRELATES AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN EGBEDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE

Abstract

Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by symptoms of persistent feelings of hopelessness, dejection, poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep and sometimes, suicidal tendencies. Depression has been pegged down as the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of total disease burden worldwide.Limited information is available on adolescent depression and correlates in Nigeria. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among in-school adolescents in Egbeda Local Government area of Oyo State. This is a cross-sectional survey involving 1713 in-school adolescents. All schools (68) in the Local Government were first stratified by School ownership into private and public schools.Seven schools (4 private, 3 public) out of 68 were randomly selected and all eligible students in each school were included in the study. A socio-demographic questionnaire was administered to the respondents to obtain information on age, family structure, maltreatment status, participation in sporting activity, health conditions and concomitant drug use. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9), with a maximum score of 27, was used to assess the presence (≥10) and severity (≥15) of the symptoms of depression and academic performance was indirectly evaluated using the Sudoku-6 grid game. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the study population including the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression were employed to identify predictors of depressive symptoms. Mean age of respondents' was 14.0 ± 2.1 years. A little less than half (44.7%) were males, 9.8% do not live with their parents and 11 .3% have more than 5 siblings. About a third (32.3%) had changed their location in the last 6 months, 43% reported the presence of a persistent health condition and 23.4% reported not partaking in any form of sporting activity. The prevalence of depression was 21.2% of which 5.1 % was severe depression. Significant predictors of depressive symptoms include "not living with parents" (OR 1.69, 95% C.I= 1.14 -2.38). Presence of persistent health condition (OR 2.30, 95% C.I= 1.80 -2.94), Not Participating in Sports (OR 1.45, 95% C.I= 1.11 -1.92), Large number of siblings (OR 1.69, 95% C.I= 1.11 -2.63) and Changed living location (OR 1.46, 95% C.I= 1.13 -1.88). This study has shown that the occurrence of depressive symptoms among in-school adolescents is of Public Health concern in Egbeda Local Government. Thus, efforts should be made by all stakeholders to implement preventive programs to address some of the predictors such as reinforcement of family planning, encouragement of sporting activities in and out of school settings and early treatment of diseases.