Determinants of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) Among Adolescent Girls Aged 15-19 Years in Indonesia: Analysis of the 2018 National Basic Health Survey Data

Abstract

Introduction: Common Mental Disorders (CMD) are distress conditions which manifest themselves with anxiety, somatic, and depressive symptoms. CMD are highly prevalent in Indonesia especially among adolescents. Adolescent girls have a higher risk to develop CMD than boys. This may be related to anaemia and/or early onset of menstruation. This study aimed to determine the association between haemoglobin concentration and other determinants of CMD among adolescent girls in Indonesia. Methods: Data of 1,052 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years old from the Indonesian Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas) 2018 were analysed. CMD was measured using the Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of main determinants was applied and resulting principal components were investigated as risk factors for CMD. Results: The prevalence of CMD among adolescent girls aged 15-19 years in Indonesia was 16.5 percent. Of the 28·2 percent of adolescents with anaemia, 16·8 percent were suspected to have CMD. Three principal components were significantly associated with higher CMD score: 1) higher parental education, better employment of the father, and living in an urban area (β: 0·16, 95%-CI: 0·02; 0·30); 2) higher consumption of salty foods, high-fat foods, and soft drinks (β: 0·23, 95%-CI: 0·05; 0·40); and 3) having asthma, smoking, and a higher haemoglobin concentration (β: 1·74, 95%-CI: 1·59; 1·89). Conclusion: The strongest clustered determinants of CMD among adolescent girls in Indonesia were asthma, smoking status, and higher haemoglobin concentration, while age at menarche and anaemia were not related to CMD. Anaemia and earlier age at menarche were not associated with CMD. This study implies that adolescent girls with asthma and smoking cigarettes, as well as those having higher parental education and secured occupation, have an increased risk of developing mental disorders. Funding Statement: This study was performed as part of obtaining a PhD degree for which MA received a scholarship from Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP), Republic of Indonesia. Declaration of Interests: All authors stated no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards issued by the Health Research Ethics Commission, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.