Abstract:
Background: -University students are highly trained and expected to transform a country of
their origin by providing mentally healthy work however worldwide they are at risk for mental
health disorders particularly to depression in which its prevalence range from 8.1%-43.4%.
Depressed students missed classes, assignments, exams and course. Despite this startling
magnitude and its impact on performance there is scarce information in Jimma University.
Objective: - This study aimed to assess the prevalence rate of depression and associated factors
among regular students at Jimma university main campus in 2016.
Method: - Institutional-based multistage stratified cross-sectional study design was conducted
among 556 students. A structured Self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic, economic and environmental data and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was
used to screen depression. Collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Science (SPSS V.20). Obtained data was analysed using simple descriptive statistics. Bivariate
analysis was used to see the significance of association. Variable that shows association in
bivariate analysis was entered to multivariate logistic regressions to control for confounders and
the significance of association was determined by 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05.
Result: Nearly one third of the participants (n=157, 28.2%) had depression. Having family
member with mental illness (OR= 2.307, 95%CI=1.055-5.049), college of Social science and
humanity (OR=2.582, 95%CI=1.332-5.008), having sex after drinking (OR=3.722,
95%CI=1.818-7.619), being hit by sexual partner (OR=3.132, 95%CI=1.561-6.283), childhood
emotional abuse (OR=2.167, 95%CI=1.169-4.017), monthly pocket money between500-
999(ETB) (OR=0.450, 95%CI=0.204-0.995), promoted acedamic performance (OR=2.912,
95%CI=1.063-7.975) had significant association with depression.
Conclusion:-This study has shown that the prevalence of depression among university students
was high. College of social science and humanity, being hit by sexual partner, having family
members with mental illness, lower pocket money, poor acaedamic perforformance, having sex
after drinking and childhood emotional abuse have an impact on the prevalence of depression.
Further study is needed to assess impact of depression and its possible intervention.
