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. 2024 Dec 16:11:e125.
doi: 10.1017/gmh.2024.135. eCollection 2024.

Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study

Zerihun Admassu  1 , Sikky Shiqi Chen  1 , Carmen H Logie  1   2   3   4 , Moses Okumu  5   6 , Frannie MacKenzie  1 , Robert Hakiza  7 , Daniel Kibuuka Musoke  8 , Brenda Katisi  7 , Aidah Nakitende  8 , Peter Kyambadde  9   10 , Lawrence Mbuagbaw  11   12   13   14
Affiliations

Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study

Zerihun Admassu et al. Glob Ment Health (Camb). .

Abstract

Background: There is a high prevalence of depression among refugee youth in low- and middle-income countries, yet depression trajectories are understudied. This study examined depression trajectories, and factors associated with trajectories, among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study with refugee youth aged 16-24 in Kampala, Uganda. We assessed depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and conducted latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify depression trajectories. Sociodemographic and socioecological factors were examined as predictors of trajectory clusters using multivariable logistic regression.

Results: Data were collected from n = 164 participants (n = 89 cisgender women, n = 73 cisgender men, n = 2 transgender persons; mean age: 19.9, standard deviation: 2.5 at seven timepoints; n = 1,116 observations). Two distinct trajectory clusters were identified: "sustained low depression level" (n = 803, 71.9%) and "sustained high depression level" (n = 313, 28.1%). Sociodemographic (older age, gender [cisgender women vs. cisgender men], longer time in Uganda), and socioecological (structural: unemployment, food insecurity; interpersonal: parenthood, recent intimate partner violence) factors were significantly associated with the sustained high trajectory of depression.

Conclusions: The chronicity of depression highlights the critical need for early depression screening with urban refugee youth in Kampala. Addressing multilevel depression drivers prompts age and gender-tailored strategies and considering social determinants of health.

Keywords: depression; refugee; trajectories; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors affirm that there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Trajectory classes of depressive symptoms based on participants’ PHQ-9 scores (N = 1,116).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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