Prevalence and Factors Associated to Depression Among Ambo University Students, Ambo, West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Depressionamong university students is extremely prevalent and wide spread problem across the world (1,2). University students are special group of people that are during a critical transitory period in which they are going from adolescence to adulthood and can be one of the most stress full times in person’s life. As a reaction trying to fit and maintaining good grades, plan for the future and be away from home some students get depressed (4 &5). The average age of on set is also on the decline, making depression a particularly silent problem area for university student populations (6). The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among Ambo university students by using CESD’s questioner to measure depression.

Results

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among Ambo university students by using CESD’s questioner to measure depression. The study result showed that among the study participant 32.2% were depressed. Being female is Four times more likely to be depressed when compared with male(AOR 4.02,95%,C/I 1.22,4.03),current use of Khat is three times more likely to be depressed (AOR  3.05, 95%,C/I 2.05,6.02),Being first year student when compared with the academic year is three times more likely to be depressed (AOR 3.00,95%,C/I 3.02,7.25).

Methods

Institution based cross-sectional quantitative study design involving the administration of English version of the pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information Depression prevalence and factors associated to it. The source population was stratified based on their year of study. The study population was selected using simple random sampling technique.

Conclusion

The prevalence of Depression in this study was high compared to study done at Jimma University, Ethiopia and Iran but lower when compared to study done at Michigan University, America. In this study being Female was associated to depression; Current user khat and being first year student.

Recommendation: Ambo University should create awareness about the effect of psychoactive substance like Khat since it can cause depression and also help first year students to adapt to the new environment because they separated from their family and previous environment.