Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Department of Community Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Pan Afr Med J. 2021 Oct 1;40:71. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2021.40.71.29079. eCollection 2021.
mental health of students deteriorate when they begin studies in a medical school. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors among medical students in a university in Nigeria.
a cross-sectional study design was used. All matriculated medical students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria were included in the study. Information was obtained using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Beck´s depression inventory was used to determine the prevalence of depression. Chi square test was used to ascertain association between variables. Level of statistical significance was determined by p value of <0.05.
the mean age of the students was 23.2 ± 3.3 years and majority, 60.2% were males. Prevalence of depression was 17.4%. Third-year class (major examination class) had the highest proportion of students who were depressed, 24.2% while final year class had the least, 8.8%. Coping mechanisms for low moods included sleeping, 50.4% and having interactions with colleagues, 46.9%. Factors associated with depression included being <25 years, (p=0.008), being in the pre-clinical school, (p=0.023) and being afraid some students may not graduate from medical school (p=0.030).
burden of depression was high among the students and most pronounced among third year students. There is need for proper orientation of newly admitted medical students on the medical curriculum by authorities of the university. Efforts should be made to decrease undue anxiety among students especially during examination. Adequate measures should be put in place for early detection and prompt management of cases of depression among the students.
学生在开始医学院学习时，心理健康状况会恶化。本研究旨在确定尼日利亚一所大学医学生中抑郁的患病率及其相关因素。
采用横断面研究设计。研究纳入了尼日利亚埃邦伊州大学阿巴卡利基分校的所有在册医学生。使用自填式结构化问卷获取信息。使用贝克抑郁量表确定抑郁的患病率。使用卡方检验确定变量之间的关联。通过 p 值<0.05 确定统计学显著性水平。
学生的平均年龄为 23.2±3.3 岁，大多数为男性（60.2%）。抑郁的患病率为 17.4%。三年级班级（主要考试班级）有最高比例的抑郁学生，为 24.2%，而最后一年班级的比例最低，为 8.8%。应对情绪低落的应对机制包括睡觉（50.4%）和与同事互动（46.9%）。与抑郁相关的因素包括年龄<25 岁（p=0.008）、处于临床前学校（p=0.023）以及担心一些学生可能无法从医学院毕业（p=0.030）。
学生的抑郁负担较高，尤其是三年级学生。大学当局需要对新入学的医学生进行适当的医学课程定位。应努力减少学生在考试期间的过度焦虑。应采取充分措施，及早发现和及时管理学生中的抑郁病例。
