Prevalence of Depression among School-going Adolescents of Manipur: A Preliminary Study

Corresponding Author: Dr. Huidrom Suraj Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University.
Email: huidromsurajsingh@gmail.com

KEYWORDS medical assistance, PHQ-9, screening, sensitization, mental health, mental problems

ABSTRACT
Background: Depression has become one of the public health concerns, ranking third after heart and respiratory issues. It is a significant cause of global disability and affects every individual regardless of age, sex, and ethnicity. The presence of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents became an under-recognized health problem due to their inability to reveal their feelings and their reluctance to seek medical assistance. However, it is highly prevalent among them. This study tries to understand the prevalence of depression and its associated risk factors among school-going adolescents in Manipur.
Methods: One hundred school-going adolescents o were randomly screened for the presence of depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) screening tool. Sociodemographic factors with the risk of depression were determined through multivariate logistic regression using Statistical Package for Social Sciences 16 version software program. Statistical significance was considered at p <0.05.
Results: The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms among the studied population is 68%, with mild depression at 49%, moderate depression at 18% and moderately severe depression at 1%, and major depression at 19 %. Late adolescent, female, siblings of 3 and above, physically inactive, and residing in a joint family were found to be the significant associated risk factors with the presence of depressive symptoms.
Conclusion: The study shows a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among school-going adolescents, indicating poor mental health, which could influence their academic activities. Sensitizing the importance of good mental health should also be addressed among adolescents besides regular academic routines. Mental health status should be monitored regularly to improve the student’s overall health.

Khangembam Taibanganba Meitei¹, Kangabam Subodh Ranjan², Thangjam Chitralekha Devi¹, Huidrom Suraj Singh³*

¹Research Scholar, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University, Imphal – 795003
²MSc, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University, Imphal – 795003
³Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University, Imphal – 795003

DOI-DS: 01.2023-39554864
DOI Link :: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/01.2023-39554864/Frontier Anthropology/06.2021-53228984/V11/2022/A7

Frontier Anthropology, 2022, 11: 59-66
©Anthropological Society of Manipur

Original Article

Manuscript Timeline
Submitted: August 14, 2022
Accepted: January 20, 2023
Published: January 31, 2023