FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS IN PESHAWAR CITY, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of depression in Public and Private High School adolescents in Peshawar Pakistan and to find an association between depression and age, and depression and gender.

Materials and Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 6 months from April 2021 to October 2021 in public and private colleges of Peshawar city.  Colleges were selected through a stratified random sampling technique. A sample of 220 adolescent students aged 16-18 was chosen through a simple random technique using the balloting method. Data from students was collected through a modified pre-tested version of Beck’s Depression Inventory. Ethical approval was sought from the IREB (Institutional Review and Ethical Board) of Khyber Medical College. The chi-square test was used to find the relationship between depression and gender and depression and age of adolescent students.

Results: Out of 220 participants, 115 (52.25%) adolescents had depression, 18 (8.18 %) had extreme depression, 27 (12.27%) had severe depression, 44 (20.0%) had moderate depression, 26 (11.8%) had borderline clinical depression. The frequency of adolescents with mild mood disturbance is (18.18%). Depression was found more in female students than males (55%). There was a significant relationship between depression and gender. However, the age categories of adolescents were not statistically related to each other.

Conclusion:

The frequency of depression in adolescents is an escalating public health issue. About half of the students in the study were found to have some form of depression. The study further concluded a statistically significant relationship between depression and gender with females having a higher frequency of depression 62 (55%).

Keywords: Depression, Adolescent, High Schools, Peshawar.