Symptoms and predictors of depression among university students in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania: a cross-sectional study. (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lugata, Salome; Elinisa, Mercy; Doshi, Bhavya; Kashuta, Rebecca A.; Hango, Suleman; Mallosa, Winfrida J.; Kelly, Clive; Ngocho, James S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of mental health. Volume 30:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 255
• Page End: 262
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Depression -- prevalence -- factors -- undergraduate students -- Tanzania; Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health services -- Periodicals; 362.2
• DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2020.1793129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8237

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Depression is the second leading cause of death among young people worldwide, and severity and suicidality are useful predictors of an adverse outcome. Aim: This study aimed at examining factors associated with depression among university students in Tanzania. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2018 and July 2019 of undergraduate students across four universities. They completed a self-reported questionnaire collecting socio-demographic, together with a Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to screen for depression. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine independent predictors of depression. Results: A total of 1047 students completed the study. Their mean (±SD) age was 24.2 (±7) years. 219 students (21.3%) screened positive for probable depression (survey-1 34% vs survey-2 13%). A total of 228 (21.9%) students reported having thoughts of serious self-harm. Factors independently influencing depression included year of study, substance abuse, unhappy interpersonal relationships and chronic mental or physical illness. The presence of an eating disorder was a predictor of depression and was recorded in 7.4% of all students. Conclusion: Significant probable depression is present in one fifth of undergraduate students in this study. These results demonstrate a worrying degree of self- reported features of depression among North Tanzanian university students.