TY - JOUR
T1 - Depressive symptoms among adolescents in six sub-Saharan African countries
T2 - A pooled analysis of associated factors
AU - Partap, Uttara
AU - Nyundo, Azan
AU - Manu, Adom
AU - Regan, Mathilda
AU - Ismail, Abbas
AU - Chukwu, Angela
AU - Dessie, Yadeta
AU - Njau, Tasiana
AU - Kaaya, Sylvia F.
AU - Fawzi, Wafaie W.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - There is a need to identify risk factors, including nutrition-related factors, for depressive disorders among sub-Saharan African (SSA) adolescents. We examined the association of multiple measures with depressive symptoms among adolescents living across six SSA countries. Building on previous analyses, we used data from a cross-sectional study conducted from 2015 to 2017 among adolescents aged 10–19 years in six SSA countries (N = 7512). Depressive symptoms were defined as highest tertile of the 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale score. Using mixed-effects Poisson regression models, we pooled data across sites and examined the association of sociodemographic, nutrition, and other indices with depressive symptoms. We additionally assessed effect modification by sex, age, and school-going status. We observed higher risk of depressive symptoms among girls (adjusted risk ratio [RR]: 1.29, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 1.05–1.58, P = 0.016), older adolescents (RR for 18–19 years: 1.59, 95 % CI: 1.44–1.76, P < 0.001), and adolescents experiencing bullying (RR: 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.26–1.62, P < 0.001) or violence (RR: 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.24–1.45, P < 0.001). Adolescents experiencing food insecurity also had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RR: 1.90, 95 % CI: 1.64–2.19, P < 0.001) along with those consuming ≥ 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (RR: 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.03–1.34, P = 0.015); conversely, those who consumed grains, roots and tubers in the past day were at decreased risk (RR: 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.69–0.77, P < 0.001). There was no strong evidence of effect modification of associations. This study reinforces the potential role of multiple sociodemographic and nutrition-related measures on risk of depressive symptoms in these populations.
AB - There is a need to identify risk factors, including nutrition-related factors, for depressive disorders among sub-Saharan African (SSA) adolescents. We examined the association of multiple measures with depressive symptoms among adolescents living across six SSA countries. Building on previous analyses, we used data from a cross-sectional study conducted from 2015 to 2017 among adolescents aged 10–19 years in six SSA countries (N = 7512). Depressive symptoms were defined as highest tertile of the 6-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale score. Using mixed-effects Poisson regression models, we pooled data across sites and examined the association of sociodemographic, nutrition, and other indices with depressive symptoms. We additionally assessed effect modification by sex, age, and school-going status. We observed higher risk of depressive symptoms among girls (adjusted risk ratio [RR]: 1.29, 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 1.05–1.58, P = 0.016), older adolescents (RR for 18–19 years: 1.59, 95 % CI: 1.44–1.76, P < 0.001), and adolescents experiencing bullying (RR: 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.26–1.62, P < 0.001) or violence (RR: 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.24–1.45, P < 0.001). Adolescents experiencing food insecurity also had a higher risk of depressive symptoms (RR: 1.90, 95 % CI: 1.64–2.19, P < 0.001) along with those consuming ≥ 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day (RR: 1.18, 95 % CI: 1.03–1.34, P = 0.015); conversely, those who consumed grains, roots and tubers in the past day were at decreased risk (RR: 0.73, 95 % CI: 0.69–0.77, P < 0.001). There was no strong evidence of effect modification of associations. This study reinforces the potential role of multiple sociodemographic and nutrition-related measures on risk of depressive symptoms in these populations.
KW - Depressive disorders
KW - Effect modification
KW - Nutrition
KW - Physical activity
KW - Risk factors
KW - Sociodemographic
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176388382&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102499
DO - 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102499
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85176388382
SN - 2211-3355
VL - 36
JO - Preventive Medicine Reports
JF - Preventive Medicine Reports
M1 - 102499
ER -