Knowledge and socio-demographic factors associated with depression among students on clinical rotation in a private university in Ekiti state, Nigeria

Abstract

NTRODUCTION: Depression is among the most common mental and public health problems globally. Depression is generally common among university students and is especially high among undergraduates on clinical postings. Clinical students are exposed to varying kinds of stressors ensuing from difficulties integrating into the hospital system and implicated in causing academic failure, disability, and poor quality of life. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and the socio-demographic factors associated with depression among clinical undergraduates in a private university.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 242 students of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of a private university who were undergoing their clinical rotations. Data was collected on the socio-demographic variable and knowledge of depression. The proportion of students with depression was determined with the 20-itemZung self-rating depression scale.

RESULTS: Less than half (43.0%) of the respondents had good knowledge of depression, with the majority using social media (82.6%) and one-third of Journals/textbooks (34.3%) as sources of information. The identified predictors of depression were being female (AOR:2.624; 95%CI:1.006-7.600) and having poor knowledge of depression (AOR:2.806; 95%CI:1.121-3.975).

CONCLUSION: This study revealed that less than half of the students had good knowledge of depression. Poor knowledge and female gender were identified as positive predictors of depression. Therefore, more effort should also be taken by the school authority to educate these students on depression.