Prevalence and risk factors of depression among undergraduate medical students in a Nigerian university

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of depression among undergraduate medical students at the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: This study was carried out at the University of Benin. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred medical students were recruited for this study. METHODS: The Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire were used to assess the prevalence and risk factors of depression, respectively. RESULTS: The students' age ranged from 15 – 34 years, with a mean age of 21.8 ± 3.3 years. Many risk factors which could predispose students to depression were identified. Overall, 96 (32.0%) students were found to have depression. Of these, 59 (19.0%) had mild depression, 4 (1.3%) had severe depression, 53 (39.3%) were pre-clinical students, and 43 (26.1%) were clinical students. Emotional problems (OR 2.205, 95% CI 1.122 – 3.749, p = 0.020), financial challenges (OR 3.971, 95% CI 2.170 – 7.269, p < 0.001) and smoking (OR 6.877, 95% CI 1.731 – 27.327, p = 0.006) were the significant independent predictors of depression. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression was high among medical students. There is a need to include screening for risk factors of depression in the routine medical examinations for new students admitted into medical schools. FUNDING: None declared