Prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder among the adult population in ghana during the covid-19 pandemic

Medard Kofi Adu; Lauren J. Wallace; Kwabena F. Lartey; Joshua Arthur; Kenneth Fosu Oteng; Samuel Dwomoh; Ruth Owusu-Antwi; Rita Larsen-Reindorf; Vincent I.O. Agyapong

doi:10.3390/ijerph18137106

Prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder among the adult population in ghana during the covid-19 pandemic

Medard Kofi Adu, Lauren J. Wallace, Kwabena F. Lartey, Joshua Arthur, Kenneth Fosu Oteng, Samuel Dwomoh, Ruth Owusu-Antwi, Rita Larsen-Reindorf, Vincent I.O. Agyapong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Emerging research suggests that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated public health restrictions have caused psychological distress in many con-texts. In order for public health authorities and policy makers to effectively address the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, it is important to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders, including depression. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence, and demographic, social, clinical and other COVID-19 related correlates of major depressive disorder symptoms among the general population in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods. The survey assessed de-mographic, social and clinical variables as well as COVID-19 related variables. Major depressive disorder symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The survey link was distributed primarily through WhatsApp-based platforms. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of likely MDD symptoms among the sample population was 12.3%. Variables such as employment, loss of jobs during the pandemic and rate of exposure to COVID-related news were independently and significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD. Variables such as gender, relationship, housing status and having a family member or friend who was sick from COVID-19 were not independently significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD, when all other factors in the model were controlled. Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population.

Original language	English
Article number	7106
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	18
Issue number	13
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137106
Publication status	Published - Jul 1 2021
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: This work is supported by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service.

Funding Information:
Funding: This study was self-funded by the authors. The publication fee is funded by an unrestricted grant from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/ijerph18137106

Cite this

Adu, M. K., Wallace, L. J., Lartey, K. F., Arthur, J., Oteng, K. F., Dwomoh, S., Owusu-Antwi, R., Larsen-Reindorf, R., & Agyapong, V. I. O. (2021). Prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder among the adult population in ghana during the covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13), Article 7106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137106

Adu, MK, Wallace, LJ, Lartey, KF, Arthur, J, Oteng, KF, Dwomoh, S, Owusu-Antwi, R, Larsen-Reindorf, R & Agyapong, VIO 2021, 'Prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder among the adult population in ghana during the covid-19 pandemic', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 13, 7106. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137106

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abstract = "Background: Emerging research suggests that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated public health restrictions have caused psychological distress in many con-texts. In order for public health authorities and policy makers to effectively address the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, it is important to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders, including depression. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence, and demographic, social, clinical and other COVID-19 related correlates of major depressive disorder symptoms among the general population in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods. The survey assessed de-mographic, social and clinical variables as well as COVID-19 related variables. Major depressive disorder symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The survey link was distributed primarily through WhatsApp-based platforms. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of likely MDD symptoms among the sample population was 12.3%. Variables such as employment, loss of jobs during the pandemic and rate of exposure to COVID-related news were independently and significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD. Variables such as gender, relationship, housing status and having a family member or friend who was sick from COVID-19 were not independently significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD, when all other factors in the model were controlled. Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population.",

author = "Adu, {Medard Kofi} and Wallace, {Lauren J.} and Lartey, {Kwabena F.} and Joshua Arthur and Oteng, {Kenneth Fosu} and Samuel Dwomoh and Ruth Owusu-Antwi and Rita Larsen-Reindorf and Agyapong, {Vincent I.O.}",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments: This work is supported by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service. Funding Information: Funding: This study was self-funded by the authors. The publication fee is funded by an unrestricted grant from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

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AU - Lartey, Kwabena F.

AU - Arthur, Joshua

AU - Oteng, Kenneth Fosu

AU - Dwomoh, Samuel

AU - Owusu-Antwi, Ruth

AU - Larsen-Reindorf, Rita

AU - Agyapong, Vincent I.O.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments: This work is supported by the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service. Funding Information: Funding: This study was self-funded by the authors. The publication fee is funded by an unrestricted grant from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2021/7/1

Y1 - 2021/7/1

N2 - Background: Emerging research suggests that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated public health restrictions have caused psychological distress in many con-texts. In order for public health authorities and policy makers to effectively address the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, it is important to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders, including depression. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence, and demographic, social, clinical and other COVID-19 related correlates of major depressive disorder symptoms among the general population in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods. The survey assessed de-mographic, social and clinical variables as well as COVID-19 related variables. Major depressive disorder symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The survey link was distributed primarily through WhatsApp-based platforms. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of likely MDD symptoms among the sample population was 12.3%. Variables such as employment, loss of jobs during the pandemic and rate of exposure to COVID-related news were independently and significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD. Variables such as gender, relationship, housing status and having a family member or friend who was sick from COVID-19 were not independently significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD, when all other factors in the model were controlled. Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population.

AB - Background: Emerging research suggests that the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated public health restrictions have caused psychological distress in many con-texts. In order for public health authorities and policy makers to effectively address the psychological distress associated with the pandemic, it is important to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders, including depression. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence, and demographic, social, clinical and other COVID-19 related correlates of major depressive disorder symptoms among the general population in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey using online data collection methods. The survey assessed de-mographic, social and clinical variables as well as COVID-19 related variables. Major depressive disorder symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The survey link was distributed primarily through WhatsApp-based platforms. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of likely MDD symptoms among the sample population was 12.3%. Variables such as employment, loss of jobs during the pandemic and rate of exposure to COVID-related news were independently and significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD. Variables such as gender, relationship, housing status and having a family member or friend who was sick from COVID-19 were not independently significantly associated with the likelihood that respondents had likely MDD, when all other factors in the model were controlled. Conclusion: This study has identified the prevalence and correlates of depression symptoms in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is the urgent need for mental health policy makers and the government of Ghana to have policies in place to alleviate the potential threat to the mental health of the population.

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Prevalence and correlates of likely major depressive disorder among the adult population in ghana during the covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

PubMed: MeSH publication types

UN SDGs

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