The Relationship Between Family Cohesion and Depression Among School-Going Children With Elevated Symptoms of Behavioral Challenges in Southern Uganda

Prevalence of depression among Iranian children and adolescents: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Aims

One of the most common mental disorders among children and adolescent is depression. Some of the conducted studies indicate a too-high prevalence of depression, which cannot be generalized to the entire country. So the pooled estimation of the results of different studies is very important to reach valid results. So the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among Iranian children and adolescents using an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression (I 2 = 99.7% and Cochran's Q, p < 0.001). To assess the effect of different factors on heterogeneity, the univariate meta-regression model was used. Publication bias was evaluated by Beggs and Eggers tests as well as funnel plots. Data were analyzed by STATA v 11 (StataCorp.). The significance level of the tests was considered less than 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of depression was 33.3% (95% CI: 27.3-39.2). The most prevalence estimated using the Beak questionnaire (57.1% [95% CI: 50.2-64.0]) and the lowest was estimated using the K-SADS-PL (9.0% [95% CI: 4.0-13.6]). This estimate among females was more than among males (47.2% [95% CI: 35.4-58.9] vs. 30.5 [95% CI: 7.4-53.6]). Regarding the geographical region, the most and the lowest amount of depression was seen in the central with 41.7% (95% CI: 19.2-64.3) and southern region with 21.9% (95% CI: 14.2-29.6), respectively.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of depressive disorders in Iranian children emphasizes the importance of prevention measures for these disorders.

A study on prevalence and risk factors of depression among adolescent girls studying in government and private schools-A comparative study

Background

The prevalence of depression among school-going adolescent girls in India is about 40%. Adolescent girls attending private and government-run schools in South India have vastly different sociodemographic backgrounds and school environments. Assessing the associated risk factors for depression will help in designing appropriate preventive strategies.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of depression among school-going adolescent girls and the associated risk factors among government and private school students.

Methods

The cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in two private and two government-run schools in Tamil Nadu. A semi-structured questionnaire and 11-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale were administered to female students belonging to grades eight, nine, and ten. Differences in the prevalence of depression and the familial, social, and behavioral risk factors between private and government school students were measured and analyzed.

Results

The prevalence of depression among our study population is 23.8%. An adolescent girl studying in a private school has a 4.67 times higher chance of being depressed as compared to her counterpart in a government school. Stress due to higher academic expectations, peer pressure, disagreement with friends, excess smartphone usage, and family discord are associated factors in private school students, and family discord and chronic illness among family members were associated risk factors for depression in government school students.

Conclusion

There is a wide disparity in the prevalence of depression and associated factors among private and government school-going adolescent girls. The intervention program for depression has to be addressed differently according to the type of school.

Disparities in healthcare utilization and depression among young mothers: The role of family functioning

BACKGROUND

Extant research suggests that disparities in healthcare utilization and experiences of mental health disorders such as depression exist across sociodemographic groups. One understudied pathway that may have significant implications for these disparities is the role of family functioning. How families interact, communicate, and adapt may vary, but these relationships remain integral for vulnerable subsets of the population due to their seemingly protective properties. Yet, few studies have examined the relationship between family functioning and health.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore family functioning as a predictor for healthcare utilization and depression among young mothers and as a moderator of disparities for each of these outcomes.

DESIGN/METHODS

This analysis uses data from a prospective cohort study which was conducted with 296 pregnant young women recruited from obstetrics clinics in Connecticut between July 2007 and February 2011 and followed 1-year postpartum. Logistic regression models were used to assess family functioning, race/ethnicity, and immigrant status as predictors of healthcare utilization and depression. Family functioning was evaluated as a moderator for both outcomes.

RESULTS

Black and Latina mothers had decreased odds of using physical healthcare services (odds ratioBlack = 0.13, p < 0.001; odds ratioLatina = 0.31, p = 0.02). Family functioning was associated with decreased odds of using mental healthcare services (odds ratio = 0.97, p = 0.04) and had a protective effect against depression (odds ratio = 0.96, p = 0.003). Family functioning significantly moderated the relationship between immigrant status and physical healthcare utilization, Black race/ethnicity and physical healthcare utilization, and Other race/ethnicity and depression.

CONCLUSION

Family functioning is a significant factor associated with both healthcare utilization and depression among young mothers. It should be a strongly considered component within healthcare settings to mitigate risks among vulnerable populations.