DEPRESSION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG STUDENTS STUDYING IN HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH KERALA
Journal Title: Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 35
Abstract
BACKGROUND The academic performance of higher secondary school students plays a crucial role in deciding about next stage of education and career. They belong to middle and late adolescence. Depression is the number one cause of illness and disability in this age group. The adolescents those who are affected with depression early in life often suffer from depression throughout their lives. Adolescents who are depressed have an increase in suicidal tendency and are at higher risk of anxiety, conduct disorders, substance abuse and poor academic achievement. The study intends to identify the prevalence of depression and associated factors. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of depression among higher secondary school students and to identify the factors associated with depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 640 adolescents studying in classes XI and XII in higher secondary schools in Taliparamba Taluk, Kannur District, Kerala. In the first stage, students were administered a pretested semi-structured questionnaire (for associated factors) and Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 (for screening). Those students who were found positive were interviewed using the Hamilton’s Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). Statistical measures like Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were analysed using SPSS version 16. RESULTS The prevalence of depression was found to be 20.6%. Majority of the students had mild depression (12.8%). Depression was found to be more among males (21.5%) compared to females (19.4%). Factors like age, class of study, father’s educational status, neglect, physical abuse, failure in exams, death of parents/ relatives, conflict in the family, poor communication, parental rejection, peer rejection, family history of depression, having someone to discuss worries with, career and university disagreement between the student and the parent were significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSION This study highlights the common but ignored problem of depression in adolescence. Early screening should be instituted in schools by adequately trained counsellors. Teachers, parents, healthcare workers and primary care providers should be trained to identify depression at early stage.
Authors and Affiliations
Liby Mary Victor, Usha Karunakaran
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP544880
- DOI 10.14260/jemds/2018/871
- Views 104
- Downloads 0
COMMINUTED FRACTURES OF DISTAL FEMUR- A STUDY ON LIMITED DISSECTION FOR INTERNAL FIXATION
BACKGROUND Supracondylar fracture of femur occurs in a variety of situations. In high velocity trauma, the impact is so high that these fractures occur with comminution and compromised soft tissue cover. MATERIALS AND ME...
OBSTETRICAL MORBIDITIES IN GENITAL TRACT INFECTIONS.
[b] INTRODUCTION[/b]- Sub clinical ascending infections through the lower female genital tract are predominant worldwide. Important morbidities related to poor perinatal outcome both for the mother and for the f...
BONE MARROW EXAMINATION- A TWO-YEAR STUDY AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE
BACKGROUND The incidence of haematological diseases is quite alarming in Indian population. The commonest presenting symptom in most of these conditions is anaemia. Apart from peripheral blood examination bone marrow ana...
A CASE OF INCARCERATED EPIGASTRIC HERNIA IN AN ADULT MALE
PRESENTATION OF CASE A 45-year-old, male patient was admitted to our hospital 3 hours after the sudden onset of abdominal pain. His epigastric region had a swelling and he was diagnosed with an irreducible epigastric her...
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ORAL MISOPROSTOL AND INTRAVENOUS OXYTOCIN IN INDUCTION OF LABOUR IN PRELABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES AT TERM IN PRIMIGRAVIDA
BACKGROUND Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (PROM) is a common complication of pregnancy that has a major impact on maternal and neonatal health. Induction of labour may help in reducing infectious morbidity. AIM...