Prevalencia de depresión y factores asociados en estudiantes de secundaria de una comuna - Medellín 2014

Abstract

Introduction: High school students have characteristics that make them more vulnerable to developing disorders related to depression. Taking into account the health implications of this disorder, it is necessary to know the factors involved in its development in order to make comprehensive interventions in mental health in this population.

Objectives: To determine the sociodemographic and leisure time factors associated with the presence of depression in high school students in a commune of Medellín in 2014.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, in which the data collected in the behavior of addictions survey in a commune of Medellín in the year 2014 were analyzed. Sociodemographic and variables related to use of free time was analized with the presence of Depression measured with the Zung depression scale.

Results: The prevalence was 14.1%. This prevalence is higher in adolescents with a range of 14 to 19 years (18.8%). Once the multivariate model was run, associations were found between the presence of depression and being a woman (OR 3.8, 95% CI 2.04 - 7.12), type of school (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.24 - 4.24) and grade level with an OR 2.3 (95% CI 1.24 - 4.24).

Discussion: The prevalence of depression found was higher than reported in the literature. Nevertheless, associations were found among some previously described factors: women, adolescents (ages 14-19), those attending higher grades, and students that have some characteristic indirectly associated with a low purchasing power (students of public institutions, belonging to the subsidized regime of health and low socioeconomic status) were more likely to present signs of depression than the rest of the participants. Findings can be useful in formulating, implementing and evaluating initiatives for schools and as a starting point for further research addressing other variables involved in the presence of depression