Depression and disability in people with podoconiosis: a comparative cross-sectional study in rural Northern Ethiopia
- PMID: 26113669
- PMCID: PMC4604655
- DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihv037
Depression and disability in people with podoconiosis: a comparative cross-sectional study in rural Northern Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Little is known about depressive symptoms in podoconiosis despite the independent contribution of depression to worse health outcomes and disability in people with other chronic disorders.
Method: Two-hundred and seventy-one individuals with podoconiosis and 268 healthy neighbours (individuals from the nearest household in any direction) were investigated for depressive symptoms using a validated Amharic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHODAS II) tool was used to measure disability. Logistic regression and zero inflated negative binomial regression were used to identify factors associated with elevated depressive symptoms, and disability, respectively.
Results: Among study participants with podoconiosis, 12.6% (34/269) had high levels of depressive symptoms (scoring 5 or more points on the PHQ-9, on two assessments two weeks apart) compared to 0.7% (2/268) of healthy neighbours (p<0.001). Having podoconiosis and being older were significantly associated with increased odds of a high PHQ-9 score (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] 11.42; 95% CI: 2.44-53.44 and AOR 1.04; 95% CI: 1.00-1.08, respectively). Significant predictors of a higher disability score were having podoconiosis (WHODAS II multiplier value: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.39-1.58) and having a high PHQ-9 score (1.07; 95% CI: 1.06-1.08).
Conclusion: We recommend integrating evidence-based treatments for depression into podoconiosis interventions.
Keywords: Depression; Ethiopia; Mental health; Neglected tropical disease; Podoconiosis.
© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Mental distress and podoconiosis in Northern Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study.Int Health. 2015 Jan;7(1):16-25. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihu043. Epub 2014 Jul 25. Int Health. 2015. PMID: 25062906 Free PMC article.
-
The impact of podoconiosis on quality of life in Northern Ethiopia.Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013 Jul 17;11:122. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-11-122. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013. PMID: 23866905 Free PMC article.
-
Magnitude of Podoconiosis and Its Associated Factors among an Adult Population in Waghmra Zone, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Biomed Res Int. 2020 Aug 6;2020:9107562. doi: 10.1155/2020/9107562. eCollection 2020. Biomed Res Int. 2020. PMID: 32832556 Free PMC article.
-
The impact of podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis, and leprosy on disability and mental well-being: A systematic review.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Jul 8;15(7):e0009492. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009492. eCollection 2021 Jul. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021. PMID: 34237079 Free PMC article.
-
Epidemiology of elephantiasis with special emphasis on podoconiosis in Ethiopia: A literature review.J Vector Borne Dis. 2015 Jun;52(2):111-5. J Vector Borne Dis. 2015. PMID: 26119541 Review.
Cited by
-
Depressive symptoms and their severity in a sample with lymphedema: a case-control investigation.Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 5;14:1202940. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1202940. eCollection 2023. Front Psychiatry. 2023. PMID: 37476539 Free PMC article.
-
Lower limb lymphoedema-related mental depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-cancer-related studies.Glob Epidemiol. 2024 Dec 25;9:100180. doi: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2024.100180. eCollection 2025 Jun. Glob Epidemiol. 2024. PMID: 39834659 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Podoconiosis in Ethiopia: From Neglect to Priority Public Health Problem.Ethiop Med J. 2017;55(Suppl 1):65-74. Ethiop Med J. 2017. PMID: 28878431 Free PMC article.
-
Development of an integrated, holistic care package for people with lymphoedema for use at the level of the Primary Health Care Unit in Ethiopia.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Apr 20;15(4):e0009332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009332. eCollection 2021 Apr. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021. PMID: 33878110 Free PMC article.
-
Geostatistical modelling of the distribution, risk and burden of podoconiosis in Kenya.Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Feb 1;117(2):72-82. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trac092. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2023. PMID: 36130407 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Litt E, Baker MC, Molyneux D. Neglected tropical diseases and mental health: a perspective on comorbidity. Trends Parasitol. 2012;28:195–201. - PubMed
-
- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Health . National Mental Health Strategy 2012/13-2015/2016. Ministry of Health; Addis Ababa: 2012.
-
- Moussavi S, Chatterji S, Verdes E, et al. Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: results from the World Health Surveys. Lancet. 2007;370:851–8. - PubMed
-
- Awas M, Kebede D, Alem A. Major mental disorders in Butajira, southern Ethiopia. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 1999;397:56–64. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical