Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Debre Berhan Town, North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2022

¹Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia

²Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia

³Department of Psychiatry, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia

⁴Department of Midwifery, Deber-Berhan Health Science College, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁵Department of Environmental Health, Deber-Berhan Health Science College, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia

⁶Department of Public Health, Deber-Berhan Health Science College, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia

*Corresponding Author: Dawit Chernet Birhanu, Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health, Asrat Woldeyes Health Science Campus, Debre Berhan University, Ethiopia, Phone: +251 922261605; Email: [email protected]

#Co-corresponding Author: Yohannis Yilma, Department of Public Health, Deber-Berhan Health Science College, Debre Berhan, Amhara, Ethiopia, Email: [email protected]

Received Date: November 22, 2024

Published Date: December 27, 2024

Citation: Bulbula EL, et al. (2024). Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Debre Berhan Town, North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2022. Mathews J Psychiatry Ment Health. 9(1):49.

Copyrights: Bulbula EL, et al. (2024).

ABSTRACT

Background: Depression is a significant public health issue among older people, leading to decreased quality of life and increased suicide rates. Limited population-based studies exist in Ethiopia, particularly in Debre Berhan Town. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among older people in Debre Berhan Town in 2022. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June 10 to July 15, 2022. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to recruit 759 participants. Depression was assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale Item-15 (GDS-15). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed, with variables having P-values < 0.25 in bivariate analysis transferred to multivariate analysis. A P-value ≤ 0.05 and an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 759 participants, 744 completed the survey, yielding a response rate of 98%. The overall prevalence of depression was 48.9% (95% CI: 45.3-52.6). Significant factors associated with depression included cognitive impairment (AOR: 2.208 [95% CI: 1.146-4.255]), poor social support (AOR: 7.992 [95% CI: 3.928-16.264]), inability to read and write (AOR: 3.897 [95% CI: 1.16-13.14]), chronic disease (AOR: 1.769 [95% CI: 1.050-2.98]), age ≥ 70 (AOR: 6.159 [95% CI: 2.991-12.682]), and a previous history of depression (AOR: 1.961 [95% CI: 1.086-3.542]). Conclusion: The study found a high prevalence of depression among older people in Debre Berhan Town. There is a need for greater emphasis on identifying and treating depression to improve the quality of life and reduce the burden on public health.

Keywords: Depression, Older People, Cognitive Impairment, Social Support, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.