The four-domain structure model of a depression scale for medical students: A cross-sectional study in Haiphong, Vietnam

Prevalence of depression among university students in low and middle income countries (LMICs): a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Though university years are peak time for the onset of many mental health problems including depression, knowledge on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in LMICs.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and WHO Global Health Library for studies published between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies conducted in LMICs (as defined by World Bank), having a sample size≥500 and published in English were identified. Data on study characteristics and prevalence of depressive symptoms was extracted by two investigators. Estimate of prevalence was pooled in meta-analysis using random-effects meta-analysis. Sub-group differences were estimated using mixed-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms prevalence data were extracted from 37 studies involving 76,608 individuals in 20 countries. Studies on depression among university students in LMICs were limited, and most were based on non-representative and small study samples. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 24.4% (95% CI, 19.2% -30.5%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence did not vary by study design, sampling technique, sample size, study major, educational level, economic regions, and screening instrument.

LIMITATIONS

Only English language studies were included. Included studies were diverse in design, screening tool, and sample size that introduced substantial heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

Overall prevalence of depressive symptoms among university students in LMICs was 24.4%, however, finding should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed to address the issue.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its related factors among students at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam in 2018

Objective

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its related factors among students at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam.

Methods

The instrument used was a questionnaire of socioeconomic-demographic characteristics, educational characteristics, and the self-reported depression scale collected from the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) originally published by Radloff in 1977. Scores of 16–21 were considered as mild to moderate symptoms of depression, and scores above 21 were considered as symptoms of major depression. The Chi-square test was performed to compare prevalences.

Results

405 students (with 136 males and 269 females) aged 19 to 27 (the average age was 20.2) were interviewed. The mean score for the CES-D was 15.98, and the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 52.3%, including the mild to moderate symptoms of depression (24.2%) and the major depression (20.7%). The prevalence occupied 72.2% among students in poor and near-poor households (aOR = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.38–6.76, p = 0.006). The prevalence also was higher among those who had been drinking alcohol (59.7% with aOR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.15–3.53, p = 0.014).). Depressive symptoms among first-year students were 39.9%, and 2nd-year students were 42.5% and tended to increase to 4th-year students (47.1%) with the p-value of 0.019.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of depression is relatively high among university students at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam. The prevalencesignificantly associates with characteristics such as household economics, behaviours and number of years studying at university. These results suggest that more attention should be directed to activities to reduce the prevalence of depressive symptoms, especially among students in the final years.