Factors associated with depressive symptoms in Nigerian adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the factors associated with depressive symptoms in a sample of Nigerian 13-18-year-olds attending senior secondary schools.


METHODS
Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (n = 1095) attending senior secondary schools completed the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) as a measure of their depressive symptoms. The adolescents and their parents also completed various questionnaires regarding related demographic, psychosocial and family factors.


RESULTS
There were 99 (9.0%) adolescents with clinically significant depressive symptoms. The factors significantly associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms include parental depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 5.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.48-7.81), adolescents' perception of family functioning as poor (OR 6.79, 95% CI 3.46-12.23), adolescents' problems with peers (OR 4.69, 95% CI 3.06-7.19), adolescents' low self-esteem (OR 6.63, 95% CI 2.59-16.96), adolescents' drinking (OR 3.98, 95% CI 2.37-6.69), female gender (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.11-2.72), and large family size (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.15-7.74).


CONCLUSIONS
Child and adolescent health policy-makers should consider these factors when planning healthcare services or formulating a predictive model for adolescents' depression in low-income countries. Clinical assessment should focus on identification of these variables and nonpharmacological interventions may be of relevance in addressing some of the associated factors.
Adewuya
Abiodun O
AO
Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. biodunwuya@yahoo.com
Ologun
Yemisi A
YA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria / Q000208:ethnology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors