Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi, China.
Human Development Research Foundation, Pakistan.
J Affect Disord. 2020 Sep 1;274:911-919. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.183. Epub 2020 May 24.
Though university years are peak time for the onset of many mental health problems including depression, knowledge on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in LMICs.
We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and WHO Global Health Library for studies published between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies conducted in LMICs (as defined by World Bank), having a sample size≥500 and published in English were identified. Data on study characteristics and prevalence of depressive symptoms was extracted by two investigators. Estimate of prevalence was pooled in meta-analysis using random-effects meta-analysis. Sub-group differences were estimated using mixed-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.
Depressive symptoms prevalence data were extracted from 37 studies involving 76,608 individuals in 20 countries. Studies on depression among university students in LMICs were limited, and most were based on non-representative and small study samples. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.4% (95% CI, 19.2% -30.5%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence did not vary by study design, sampling technique, sample size, study major, educational level, economic regions, and screening instrument.
Only English language studies were included. Included studies were diverse in design, screening tool, and sample size that introduced substantial heterogeneity.
Overall prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in LMICs was 24.4%, however, finding should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed to address the issue.
尽管大学时期是许多心理健康问题（包括抑郁症）开始出现的高峰期，但在中低收入国家（LMICs）大学生中抑郁症状的流行程度的相关知识却有限。本研究旨在调查 LMICs 大学生抑郁症状的流行程度。
我们系统地检索了 PubMed、Web of Science 和世界卫生组织全球卫生图书馆，以获取 2009 年 1 月 1 日至 2018 年 12 月 31 日期间发表的研究。确定了在 LMICs（按世界银行定义）进行的横断面和纵向研究，样本量≥500 且以英文发表。两名调查员提取了研究特征和抑郁症状流行率的数据。使用随机效应荟萃分析汇总荟萃分析中流行率的估计值。使用混合效应荟萃分析和荟萃回归估计亚组差异。
从 20 个国家的 37 项研究中提取了抑郁症状流行率数据，涉及 76608 人。关于 LMICs 大学生抑郁症的研究有限，且大多数研究样本不具有代表性且规模较小。抑郁症状的总体流行率为 24.4%（95%CI，19.2%-30.5%）。亚组分析表明，研究设计、抽样技术、样本量、专业、教育程度、经济区域和筛查工具均不会影响流行率。
仅纳入了英语语言的研究。纳入的研究在设计、筛查工具和样本量方面存在差异，引入了大量的异质性。
LMICs 大学生抑郁症状的总体流行率为 24.4%，但应谨慎解释这一发现。需要进一步研究来解决这个问题。
