Depression and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of depression and associated factors among patients with tuberculosis (TB) visiting outpatient clinics in Ethiopia.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 415 TB patients. Study participants were selected through a systematic random sampling technique. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression using face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic analyses were done to identify associated factors with depression. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant, and the strength of the association was presented by adjusted OR (AOR) with 95% CI.

Results: The magnitude of depression was found to be 31.1% with 95% CI (26.5-35.7). Extrapulmonary TB [AOR =1.8, 95% CI (1.02, 3.24)], poor social support [AOR =3.3, 95% CI (1.8, 6.03)] and perceived TB stigma [AOR =2.0, 95% CI (1.28, 3.18)] were variables found to be statistically significantly connected with depression.

Conclusion: The magnitude of depression was high compared to the general population and some other studies. Therefore, the current study area and other settings which provide TB screening and treatment need to assess patients for depression and provide intervention, giving more emphasis to patients with risk factors.

Keywords: depressive illness; outpatient clinics; tuberculosis patients.