Prevalence of Depression among Clinical Medical Students at a Tertiary Health Facility in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Depression is a common mental health disorder, affecting about 5% of adults worldwide. University students and medical students are at risk of coming down with depression and this may be so because of the academic work load and pressure that come with the learning environment in our tertiary health institutions. Other sociodemographic factors may also predispose these students to depression, thus affecting their academic performance and quality of life. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and severity of depression among clinical medical students at the College of Health Sciences (CHS), University of Jos, Nigeria using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out on clinical medical students of the CHS, University of …, Nigeria. The students were selected through a multistage sampling technique and PHQ-9 questionnaire administered electronically. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 25.0. Depression was diagnosed when a student scored ≥10. The Chi-square test was used to analyse the sociodemographics and P < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: A total of 247 students with a median age of 27.6 years responded to the study. The prevalence of depression was found to be 24.7%; more among fourth year clinical students and students within the age group of 20–24 years. Depression was statistically significant among females and most severe in them too. Conclusion: The above findings could stimulate institutional measures that are geared toward reducing the burden of depression among clinical medical students and this may help to improve their mental health and overall academic performance.