Author(s): Jacob Sheehama
This study sought to describe the level of severity of depressive symptoms in adults with diagnosed diabetes. Primary objective was calculating the prevalence of depressive symptoms with secondary objectives of severity and contributing factors to development of depressive symptoms. A cross-sectional study design was used, focussing on the relationships between the outcome of disease (depression) and exposure (factors contributing to development of depression). A three-part questionnaire on demographics, health parameters and depression symptoms was given to adults with diagnosed Diabetes at the Katutura State Hospital Outpatient Department over the course of six weeks, chosen by systemic sampling. Patients on first visit (undiagnosed DM) or with Gestational Diabetes were excluded from the study. Of the 113 individuals who met the inclusion criteria, 101 were included in this study. Only 2 patients (1.98%) had no symptoms of depression whatsoever, the rest categorized into having mild, moderate and severe symptoms. Severe depressive symptoms were present in 19.8% of the total group (20/101), with a male to female ratio of 2:3 (Risk Ratio - 0.98, p-value 0.48), with 40% above the age of 65 (RR - 1.57, p-value 0.14), and 80% had Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (RR - 1.85, p-value 0.11). Socio-economic factors such as no formal schooling and only having pension as a sole source of income, were most common in the group with severe depression. Health care workers should be able to identify signs of depression and refer accordingly, as psychosocial support is needed in patients with chronic, often incurable conditions.
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