Abstract
The current study examines the prevalence of depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and PTSD in Ugandan youth (13-25 years) attending vocational training programs. Youth from five urban (n=224 females, 81 males) and four rural (n=153 females only) vocational training centers operated by a non-governmental organization completed demographic and mental health questionnaires. Nearly half of the youth reported moderate or severe depression and/or anxiety. More than half reported anxiety and depression-related impairment. Nearly a quarter of youth had considered or attempted suicide. More than half screened positive on the PC-PTSD screen. Rural female youth reported the most food insecurity (56.9%), trafficking (37.9%), severe depression (35.9%), depression-related impairment (56.9%), severe anxiety (26.1%), and anxiety-related impairment (55.6%). Results from this study suggest that Ugandan youth have exceedingly high rates of depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and probable PTSD. Rural female youth may be especially at risk. Relevant treatment interventions are needed that can be adapted to youth in vocational training centers.
Highlights
The current study examines the prevalence of depression, anxiety, suicide risk, and PTSD in Ugandan youth (13-25 years) attending vocational training programs
Because low and middle income countries (LMICs) are home to 80% of the world’s population, including the largest proportion of youth, depression has emerged as a major public health concern there (Kieling et al, 2011)
High rates of suicidal ideation among youth (N=1134, 23.54%), depressive symptoms among adolescents (N=519, 21.0%), and anxiety disorders among children and adolescents (N=1680, 26.6%) have been reported (Abbo et al, 2013; Culbreth et al, 2018; Nalugya-Sserunjogi et al, 2016). These findings underscore the importance of determining the prevalence of common mental illnesses among groups of Ugandan youth in settings that could provide mental health care
Summary
Males (17.9+2.3, 13-24) and females (17.9+2.2, 13-25) were of similar age They reported similar educational background, food insecurity, housing, and living arrangements. Compared to urban female youth, rural female youth were more likely to report food insecurity (56.9% vs 33.9%), a history of trafficking (37.9% vs 14.7%), and living with adults other than their parents (69.1% vs 31.9%). The majority of youth reported moderate or severe depression and depression related impairment, but rural youth reported a greater burden of severe depression (35.9% vs 11.2%) and impairment (56.9% vs 35.7%). Both groups reported similar lifetime histories of suicide attempts (21.6-22.8%) and family histories of suicide (15.2-19.6%). Over half (54.5-62.1%) screened positive on the PC-PTSD
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