Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Health Science, Wollo University, P.O. Box 1145, Dessie, Ethiopia.
Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
BMC Psychiatry. 2024 May 21;24(1):376. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05812-1.
Depression is the most common mental health outcome of exposure to war-related traumatic stressors. Due to inter-communal conflict, Dessie City residents have experienced prolonged armed conflict in 2021. This conflict leads to widespread violence, negative impact on mental health, and large-scale forced migration. However, the problem is not properly addressed in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of depression in the war-affected area in Dessie City, Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study design was conducted among 785 participants in 2022. The study subjects were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. The outcome measures used in the study were validated with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Data was entered using Epi-data version 3.1 and SPSS version 25 was used to analyze data. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were done to identify factors related to depression. In multivariable logistic regression variables with a p-value less than 0.05 were considered significant and, adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI was used to present the strength of the association.
The prevalence of depression among participants was found to be 24.5% (95% CI,21.7, 27.5). In multivariable analysis, post-traumatic stress disorder (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.76-4.43), middle-perceived life threats (AOR = 8.25, 95% CI 2.47-17.49), low social support (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.23-2.96) were variables significantly associated with depression.
This study found a high prevalence of depression among Dessie City residents. post-traumatic stress disorder, middle-perceived life threats, and low social support were associated with depression. Interventional strategies should be implemented to promote healing, resilience, and the overall well-being of individuals and communities. However, the findings underscore the need to address the current lack of mental health care resources in post-conflict populations.
抑郁症是暴露于与战争相关的创伤性应激源后最常见的心理健康问题。由于族群间的冲突，德西市居民在 2021 年经历了长期的武装冲突。这场冲突导致了广泛的暴力、对心理健康的负面影响以及大规模的被迫迁移。然而，这个问题在埃塞俄比亚并没有得到妥善解决。因此，本研究旨在评估德西市受战争影响地区的抑郁症患病率和风险因素。
2022 年，采用横断面研究设计，对 785 名参与者进行了研究。研究对象采用多阶段聚类抽样技术选取。研究中使用的结果测量工具是经过验证的患者健康问卷（PHQ-9）。数据使用 Epi-data 版本 3.1 输入，使用 SPSS 版本 25 进行数据分析。采用二变量和多变量逻辑回归来确定与抑郁症相关的因素。在多变量逻辑回归中，具有 p 值小于 0.05 的变量被认为具有统计学意义，使用调整后的比值比（AOR）和 95%置信区间（CI）来表示关联的强度。
研究发现，参与者中抑郁症的患病率为 24.5%（95%CI，21.7%，27.5%）。在多变量分析中，创伤后应激障碍（AOR=2.79，95%CI 1.76-4.43）、中等感知生命威胁（AOR=8.25，95%CI 2.47-17.49）、低社会支持（AOR=1.90，95%CI 1.23-2.96）与抑郁症显著相关。
本研究发现，德西市居民的抑郁症患病率较高。创伤后应激障碍、中等感知生命威胁和低社会支持与抑郁症相关。应实施干预策略，以促进个人和社区的康复、韧性和整体幸福感。然而，研究结果强调了需要解决冲突后人群中目前缺乏精神卫生保健资源的问题。
