Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
BackgroundDepression is a common mental disorder, it is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, and has been associated with suicidal tendencies even among students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among undergraduate health student...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Family Medicine, National Postgraduate Medical College Nigeria
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://nfmjournal.org/index.php/nfmj/article/view/95 |
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| author | Ijapa A. Adamu Harrison S. Akogwu Kehinde J. Awosan Oche O. Mansur Musa H. Idris Maryam H. Muhammad Yahaya A. Lapai Micheal Dasa A. Shehu A. Abubakar Zaharadeen M. Dan-inna Oluseyi S. Apanisile Mustapha B. Bello |
| author_facet | Ijapa A. Adamu Harrison S. Akogwu Kehinde J. Awosan Oche O. Mansur Musa H. Idris Maryam H. Muhammad Yahaya A. Lapai Micheal Dasa A. Shehu A. Abubakar Zaharadeen M. Dan-inna Oluseyi S. Apanisile Mustapha B. Bello |
| author_sort | Ijapa A. Adamu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDepression is a common mental disorder, it is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, and has been associated with suicidal tendencies even among students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among undergraduate health students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 363 undergraduate health sciences students selected by stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 22 computer statistical software package.
ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 23.39 ± 3.44 years. About a third, 105 (30.0%) of the 363 respondents were depressed. Of these, 84 (80%) had mild depression, while about a fifth (21%) had moderate to severe depression. The factors that were found to be associated with depression were respondents' course of study, history of major life events, history of chronic illness, having a family or social problem, concerns about future career, staying off campus, not having family support, not engaging in regular physical exercise, and having less than 50% punctuality at lectures.
ConclusionThis study showed a relatively high prevalence of depression among the respondents, and it was associated with their social lifestyle, medical history, and accommodation problems. The primary care facility in the University and family practice physicians should routinely screen undergraduate health students for depression, and the University management should provide adequate accommodation and promote healthy social lifestyles among them (such as participating in extracurricular activities and engaging in regular physical exercise).
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc02b76ccd834b9baeeaadb1baf44efc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2636-6487 2354-3310 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Faculty of Family Medicine, National Postgraduate Medical College Nigeria |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc02b76ccd834b9baeeaadb1baf44efc2025-08-20T19:05:02ZengFaculty of Family Medicine, National Postgraduate Medical College NigeriaNigerian Frontline Medicine Journal2636-64872354-33102025-08-0122Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, NigeriaIjapa A. Adamu0Harrison S. Akogwu1Kehinde J. Awosan2Oche O. Mansur3Musa H. Idris4Maryam H. Muhammad5Yahaya A. Lapai6Micheal Dasa7A. Shehu8A. Abubakar9Zaharadeen M. Dan-inna10Oluseyi S. Apanisile11Mustapha B. Bello12Department of Community Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, NigeriaFederal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria.Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, NigeriaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, NigeriaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, NigeriaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, NigeriaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, NigeriaThe Royal Oldham Hospital, United KingdomFederal Medical Centre Gusau, Zamfara State, NigeriaUsmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, NigeriaFederal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara State, NigeriaFederal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara State, NigeriaFederal Medical Center, Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria.BackgroundDepression is a common mental disorder, it is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, and has been associated with suicidal tendencies even among students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among undergraduate health students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 363 undergraduate health sciences students selected by stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 22 computer statistical software package. ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 23.39 ± 3.44 years. About a third, 105 (30.0%) of the 363 respondents were depressed. Of these, 84 (80%) had mild depression, while about a fifth (21%) had moderate to severe depression. The factors that were found to be associated with depression were respondents' course of study, history of major life events, history of chronic illness, having a family or social problem, concerns about future career, staying off campus, not having family support, not engaging in regular physical exercise, and having less than 50% punctuality at lectures. ConclusionThis study showed a relatively high prevalence of depression among the respondents, and it was associated with their social lifestyle, medical history, and accommodation problems. The primary care facility in the University and family practice physicians should routinely screen undergraduate health students for depression, and the University management should provide adequate accommodation and promote healthy social lifestyles among them (such as participating in extracurricular activities and engaging in regular physical exercise). https://nfmjournal.org/index.php/nfmj/article/view/95depressionprevalenceassociated factorshealth students |
| spellingShingle | Ijapa A. Adamu Harrison S. Akogwu Kehinde J. Awosan Oche O. Mansur Musa H. Idris Maryam H. Muhammad Yahaya A. Lapai Micheal Dasa A. Shehu A. Abubakar Zaharadeen M. Dan-inna Oluseyi S. Apanisile Mustapha B. Bello Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria Nigerian Frontline Medicine Journal depression prevalence associated factors health students |
| title | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria |
| title_full | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria |
| title_short | Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression Among Undergraduate Health Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria |
| title_sort | prevalence and factors associated with depression among undergraduate health students in usmanu danfodiyo university sokoto nigeria |
| topic | depression prevalence associated factors health students |
| url | https://nfmjournal.org/index.php/nfmj/article/view/95 |
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