Depression among adolescents, aged 13-19 years, attending secondary schools in Trinidad prevalence and associated factors / Depresión entre adolescentes de 13 a 19 años, que asisten a las escuelas secundarias en Trinidad prevalencia y factores asociados

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of depression and psychosocial factors associated with depression in secondary school students in Trinidad. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a stratified random sample of public secondary schools utilizing a modified pre-tested self-administered Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to detect depression in students aged 13-19 years in Trinidad. RESULTS: In this study, 1290 students participated, a response rate of 79.6%; 43% were aged 13-15 years; 53.6 % were Indo-Trinidadians; 82.5% were attending co-educational schools and 70.6% lived with both parents. The prevalence of depression was 25.3% ± 2.37%. Chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant associations between depression and the categories of age, gender, living arrangements and school type. Similar findings were observed for respondents who admitted to cigarette and alcohol use or to being afraid of, or being injured by their parent (p < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that females were 1.7 times as likely to be depressed when compared with males; respondents not living with both parents were 1.5 times as likely to be depressed as those who were. Respondents reporting that they were afraid of parents or of being injured by parents were three times as likely to be depressed as respondents who had not had those experiences. CONCLUSIONS: One out of every four secondary school students in Trinidad was found to have significant depression. There were strong associations between depression and age, gender, school type and family structure. This study identifies that many adolescents experience violence in the home and those who did were more likely to be depressed.

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de la depresión y los factores psicológicos asociados con la depresión en estudiantes de las escuelas secundarias de Trinidad. MÉTODOS: El presente trabajo constituye un estudio transversal con muestreo aleatorio estratificado de escuelas secundarias públicas, utilizando un Inventario de Depresión de Beck modificado, auto-administrado y pre-probado, con el objeto de detectar depresión en estudiantes de 13 a 19 años de edad en Trinidad. RESULTADOS: En este estudio, participaron 1290 estudiantes, lo cual constituye una tasa de respuesta de 79.6%; 43% tenían de 13 a 15 años; 53.6% eran indo-trinidenses; 82.5% asistían a escuelas co-educacionales y 70.6% vivían con el padre y la madre. La prevalencia de la depresión fue 25.3% ± 2.37%. El análisis de chi-cuadrado reveló asociaciones estadísticamente significativas entre la depresión y las categorías de edad, género, ordenamiento de la vida y tipo de escuela. Hallazgos similares se observaron en encuestados que admitieron el uso del alcohol y cigarrillos, o tener miedo de sus padres, o haber sido herido por sus padres (p < 0.05). La regresión logística indicó que las hembras tenían una tendencia a deprimirse 1.7 veces mayor en comparación con los varones; los encuestados que no vivían con el padre y la madre presentaban una probabilidad de deprimirse 1.5 veces mayor que aquellos que vivían con ambos progenitores. Los encuestados que reportaron tener miedo de sus padres o haber sido físicamente lastimados por sus padres, presentaban una tendencia tres veces mayor a deprimirse que los encuestados que no habían pasado por esas experiencias. CONCLUSIONES: Se halló que uno de cada cuatro estudiantes de escuelas secundarias en Trinidad tenía una depresión significativa. Hubo fuerte asociaciones entre la depresión y la edad, el género, el tipo de escuela y la estructura de la familia. Este estudio identifica que muchos adolescentes experimentan violencia en sus hogares y los que tuvieron esa experiencia tenían una probabilidad mayor de sentirse deprimidos.

Depression among adolescents, aged 13-19 years, attending secondary schools in Trinidad: prevalence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of depression and psychosocial factors associated with depression in secondary school students in Trinidad METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a stratified random sample of public secondary schools utilizing a modified pre-tested self-administered Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to detect depression in students aged 13-19 years in Trinidad. RESULTS: In this study, 1290 students participated, a response rate of 79.6%; 43% were aged 13-15 years; 53.6% were Indo-Trinidadians; 82.5% were attending co-educational schools and 70.6% lived with both parents. The prevalence of depression was 25.3% +/- 2.37%. Chi-square analysis revealed statistically significant associations between depression and the categories of age, gender, living arrangements and school type. Similar findings were observed for respondents who admitted to cigarette and alcohol use or to being afraid of or being injured by their parent (p < 0.05). Logistic regression indicated that females were 1.7 times as likely to be depressed when compared with males; respondents not living with both parents were 1.5 times as likely to be depressed as those who were. Respondents reporting that they were afraid of parents or of being injured by parents were three times as likely to be depressed as respondents who had not had those experiences. CONCLUSIONS: One out of every four secondary school students in Trinidad was found to have significant depression. There were strong associations between depression and age, gender, school type and family structure. This study identifies that many adolescents experience violence in the home and those who did were more likely to be depressed.