Pattern and Determinants of Depression Among Students Attending Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State, NigeriaPattern and Determinants of Depression Among Students Attending Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria

Depression is a mental health issue that can have an impact on one’s health and capacity to lead a normal life. It can cause a sad mood, a lack of enjoyment or interest, guilt or a sense of low self-worth, interrupted sleep or food, low energy, and it can seriously impair one’s ability to concentrate. Generally, students of tertiary institutions are at higher risk of experiencing depression when compared to the general population. There is a paucity of data on the mental health of students in tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to assess the pattern and determinants of depression among students attending tertiary institutions in Rives State, Nigeria. This cross sectional study was conducted among 873 students attending tertiary institutions who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. The Patient Health Questionnaire was used to assess depression. Chi square and binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between independent variables and depression. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. In general, 19.9% of the respondents exhibited symptoms of depression. The pattern of depression showed that 13.5% of the respondents experienced mild depression, 4.1% experienced moderate depression, 1.6% were moderately severely depressed, and 0.7% of the respondents were severely depressed. In the Chi square and binary logistic regression analyses, attending university [p= 0.001, 95% CI: 1.20-3.85], being 22 years of age or younger [p = 0.002, 95% CI: 1.04-2.41], being a member of a monogamous family [p=0.001, 95% CI: 1.75-4.95], being the fourth child or above [p= 0.001, 95% CI: 1.06-2.86], having a maternal education level of secondary and below. In conclusion, depression is prevalent among students attending tertiary institutions in Rivers State. There is a need for the management of tertiary institutions to periodically examine the mental health status of students attending tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Interventions targeted at variations in family structure and restructuring the university curriculum should be implanted to reduce the incidence of depression.