Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among undergraduate health science students at the University of Parakou, Benin

Antoine Gbessemehlan; Rafath Rafiou Taffa; Cédric Galera; Maëlenn Guerchet; Thierry Adoukonou

doi:10.1016/j.jeph.2024.202525

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among undergraduate health science students at the University of Parakou, Benin

J Epidemiol Popul Health. 2024 May 4;72(4):202525. doi: 10.1016/j.jeph.2024.202525. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Antoine Gbessemehlan¹, Rafath Rafiou Taffa², Cédric Galera³, Maëlenn Guerchet⁴, Thierry Adoukonou⁵

Affiliations

¹ University of Bordeaux, INSERM UMR 1219, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Parakou, ENATSE - National School of Public Health and Epidemiology, Parakou, Benin. Electronic address: sgbessemehlan@yahoo.fr.
² University of Parakou, ENATSE - National School of Public Health and Epidemiology, Parakou, Benin.
³ University of Bordeaux, INSERM UMR 1219, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Charles Perrens Hospital, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
⁴ Inserm U1094, IRD UMR270, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, EpiMaCT - Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases in Tropical Zone, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, OmegaHealth, Limoges, France.
⁵ University of Parakou, ENATSE - National School of Public Health and Epidemiology, Parakou, Benin; University of Parakou, Department of Neurology, Parakou, Benin.

PMID: 38704931
DOI: 10.1016/j.jeph.2024.202525

Abstract

Objectives: Research on psychological distress in African students is scarce. This study aimed at exploring the epidemiology (prevalence and correlates) of depressive symptoms among undergraduate health sciences students at the University of Parakou (Benin).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from June to July 2022 at the University of Parakou, the second-largest university in the Republic of Benin. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9). Information on several independent factors was collected and their associations with depressive symptoms were investigated using logistic regression models.

Results: Data from 560 students were analyzed (mean age: 21.3± 2.3 years, 60 % were male, and 50.4 % were registered in the first year of study). The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 39.1 % [95 % CI: 35.2 %-43.1 %]. Moderate and severe depressive symptoms were observed in 15.3 % and 1.8 % of participants, respectively. In the multivariable model, being aged 21-23 (adjusted Odds Ratio=1.8, p-value: 0.007), a female (aOR=1.5, p-value: 0.050), a medical student (aOR=2.9, p-value: <0.001), a public health student (aOR=3.6, p-value: <0.001), belonging to households with higher incomes (aOR= 2.4, p<0.001), and experiencing stress (aOR=1.5, p-value: 0.048) independently increased the probability of having depressive symptoms. However, having support from close relatives (aOR= 0.5, p-value: 0.026) was associated with a lower probability of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Our findings revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among undergraduate health science students. Given the correlates identified, actions to promote coping skills in stress and encourage more parental support may be real avenues likely to help reduce the frequency and consequences of depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Depression; Epidemiology; Health students; Sub-Saharan Africa.