Prevalence of Depression among Senior Secondary School Students in Enugu Metropolis

ABSTRACT Background Depression is defined as a state of low mood and aversion to activity. A mental health disorder characterized by persistent low mood or loss of interest in activities causing significant impairment in daily life. Depression amongst secondary school students is an issue that is often ignored. It is frequently unrecognized when present in adolescents who make up the population of secondary school students (age 10-19 years). In our environment, studies have reported that 21.2% of Nigerian adolescents are suffering from mild to moderate depression and depression when left unchecked and untreated, takes a toll on the quality of life of individuals affected. This is why this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression among senior secondary school students in Enugu metropolis, to create proper awareness and sensitize people involved and the public on this menace. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample size of 270 secondary school students across 10 secondary schools in Enugu metropolis. The population of 270 students was sampled using simple random sampling. All met the inclusion criteria. A self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Data was presented using tables. Result The study had a 100% response rate. Results showed the prevalence of mild depression amongst the respondents as 58.1%, the prevalence of moderate depression amongst the respondents as 31.1% while the prevalence of severe depression was 10.7%. The study found the prevalence of depression to be higher in older adolescents and females. There was also a significant relationship between satisfaction with academic performance and depression. Conclusion There was significant level of prevalence of depression among senior secondary school students in Enugu metropolis, notably among the females, older adolescents and those who were not satisfied with their academic performance. Recommendations Depression should be seen as what it is, a disease and awareness should be carried out to adequately sensitize the involved population on early recognition of signs and symptoms of depression, appropriate support and therapy and subsequent rehabilitation of depressed individuals.