THE PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF DEPRESSION AMONG FEMALE ADOLESCENTS IN GOVERNMENTAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN JEDDAH, 2018

Background and objectives: Depression is an underdiagnosed disease especially in adolescent age group and it can lead to a serious psychiatric illness in the adulthood life, previous studies have shown a high rate of depression in multiple regions in Saudi Arabia and all over the world. This research was done to assess the prevalence and Determinants of depression among female adolescence in governmental secondary schools in Jeddah city. Methods: A cross sectional multistage cluster sampling methodology was held on 472 secondary school female students. Psychometric evaluation of depression was done by Beck Depression Inventory scale. Results: Out of the 472 participants, 43.6% were found to have depression, this percentage was divided as 20.2% as moderate depression, 13.4% as borderline clinical depression, 8.9% as severe depression, and 1.1% as extreme depression. There was a positive correlation between the presence of depression and the following associated factors: parents relationship, presence of chronic disease in the student, social problems with family and friends, and a family history of depression. Conclusion: In this study we found that the prevalence of depression in female adolescents in Jeddah is higher than the prevalence of depression that was found in previous studies which was done on the same age group in other regions of the kingdom. Early detection of depressive symptoms can prevent a lot of serious consequences later on adulthood life, thus a national screening programs in schools are needed in this age group for diagnosis, management and follow up of the detected cases.