Depression among adolescents attending secondary schools in South East Nigeria

Josephat M Chinawa; Pius C Manyike; Herbert A Obu; A Ebele Aronu; Odetunde Odutola; Awoere T Chinawa

doi:10.4103/1596-3519.148737

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2015 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 1 | Page : 46-51

Depression among adolescents attending secondary schools in South East Nigeria

Josephat M Chinawa¹, Pius C Manyike², Herbert A Obu¹, A Ebele Aronu¹, Odetunde Odutola¹, Awoere T Chinawa³
¹ Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital; Department of Paediatrics, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria
² Department of Pediatrics, Fedral Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
³ Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State; Department of Community Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Josephat M Chinawa
Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, PMB 01129, Enugu 400001, Enugu State
Nigeria

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.148737

Background: Depression among adolescents is an uncommon and frequently unrecognized issue in pediatrics. Children and adolescents however suffer from both depression and associated symptoms. Methods: The study was carried out among adolescents in secondary schools from two states; Enugu and Ebonyi metropolises within the age range of 9-18 in Enugu metropolis. The instrument employed for data collection was a structured self-administered questionnaire developed from the Goldberg Depression Questionnaire, a Screening Test for Depression. It is particularly suited for students in this age group. The families were assigned socio-economic classes using the recommended method (modified) by Oyedeji. Objectives: The aims and objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of several levels of depression among adolescents attending secondary schools in two states. Results: A total of 453 adolescents who are attending secondary schools from two states were recruited in this study. Depression is non-existent before the age of 10 years according to this study. The prevalence of moderate depression was lowest (2.3%) at the age of 10 and highest at (6.2%) the age of 13. The prevalence of severe depression was lowest (1.9%) at the age of 11 and highest (7.4%) at the age of 12. Female gender is a risk factor for depression. Children whose parents are separated showed higher incidences of depression in all the spectra studied. Conclusion: Adolescents exhibit different levels of depression with a female preponderance.

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