Amede Endris Seid, Tesfaye Elias, Ahmed Gutema
Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Science and Medicine, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.
Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Front Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 19;15:1505876. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1505876. eCollection 2024.
Refugees encounter a variety of traumatic events throughout their migratory process and in the camp, which increase their risk of developing mental illnesses. Even though depression and anxiety are the most frequent after a stressful life event, there is limited information on Sudanese refugees. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms at the Bambasi Camp in northwestern Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 379 participants using a systematic random sampling method. The Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-25) was used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms. The data was collected by the Kobo toolbox mobile application and analyzed using SPSS (version 26). Multiple logistic regressions with the backward elimination method were performed. A -value of <0.05 with 95% CI was taken as statistically significant.
A total of 379 participants were included, with 96.9% response rate. The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms was 46.2% (95% CI = 41-51.2) and 39.6% (95% CI = 34-41), respectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that being a female (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.50-4.26), duration of stay (≥11 years) in the camp (AOR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.39-3.86), being jobless (AOR = 2.68; 95% CI = 1.30-5.50), and poor social support (AOR = 3.12; 95% CI = 1.25-7.79) were identified as risk factors of depressive symptoms and also being female (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI = 2.26-5.74) and age above 45 (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI = 1.16-5.30) were identified as risk factors for anxiety symptoms.
The findings highlight the high burden of mental health problems that Sudanese refugees bear. The identified predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms should alert medical and refugee professionals to identify vulnerable individuals and groups, to link them to appropriate psychological intervention, and also to take action for the identified risk factors.
难民在整个迁徙过程中和难民营中会遭遇各种创伤性事件，这增加了他们患精神疾病的风险。尽管抑郁和焦虑是应激性生活事件后最常见的情况，但关于苏丹难民的信息有限。因此，本研究旨在评估埃塞俄比亚西北部班巴西难民营中抑郁和焦虑症状的患病率及相关因素。
采用系统随机抽样方法对379名参与者进行了横断面研究。使用霍普金斯症状清单（HSCL - 25）评估抑郁和焦虑症状。数据通过Kobo工具箱移动应用程序收集，并使用SPSS（版本26）进行分析。采用向后逐步淘汰法进行多因素逻辑回归分析。以<0.05且95%置信区间作为具有统计学意义。
共纳入379名参与者，应答率为96.9%。抑郁和焦虑症状的患病率分别为46.2%（95%置信区间 = 41 - 51.2）和39.6%（95%置信区间 = 34 - 41）。多因素逻辑回归分析表明，女性（比值比 = 2.56；95%置信区间 = 1.50 - 4.26）、在难民营的停留时间（≥11年）（比值比 = 2.32；95%置信区间 = 1.39 - 3.86）、无工作（比值比 = 2.68；95%置信区间 = 1.30 - 5.50）以及社会支持差（比值比 = 3.12；95%置信区间 = 1.25 - 7.79）被确定为抑郁症状的危险因素，女性（比值比 = 3.60；95%置信区间 = 2.26 - 5.74）和年龄在45岁以上（比值比 = 2.48；95%置信区间 = 1.16 - 5.30）被确定为焦虑症状的危险因素。
研究结果凸显了苏丹难民所承受的心理健康问题的沉重负担。所确定的抑郁和焦虑症状预测因素应提醒医疗和难民专业人员识别易受影响的个体和群体，为他们提供适当的心理干预，并针对已确定的危险因素采取行动。
