Depressive symptoms among female college students experiencing gender-based violence in Awassa, Ethiopia.
Little epidemiologic research has focused on the mental health effects of gender-based violence among sub-Saharan African women. The objective of this study was to assess risk of depression and depressive symptoms among 1,102 female undergraduate students who were victims of gender-based violence. Students who reported experience of any gender-based violence were nearly twice as likely to be classified as having moderate depression during the academic year (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.39-2.82) as compared with nonabused students. Compared with nonabused students, those who had experienced both physical and sexual abuse were 4 times more likely to report either moderately severe (OR = 4.32, 95% CI = 2.00-9.31) or severe depressive symptoms (OR = 4.19, 95% CI = 1.01-17.43). Our findings, consistent with previous studies, support the thesis that women's mental health status is adversely affected by exposure to gender-based violence.
Gelaye
Bizu
B
University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. mirt@u.washington.edu
Arnold
Dodie
D
Williams
Michelle A
MA
Goshu
Miruts
M
Berhane
Yemane
Y
D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D015995:Prevalence; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult