Depression and Associated Factors Among the Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Rwanda

Various studies have found a greater prevalence of depression among patients having one or more chronic non communicable disease like diabetes mellitus than in the general population. This co-morbidity is linked with serious health consequences such as high mortality and morbidity, debility, low quality of life and increased health costs. The aim was to determine the prevalence of depression among patients with diabetes attending three selected district hospitals in Rwanda. Sociodemographic factors associated with depression were also explored.

It was a descriptive cross sectional study. A sample of 385 was selected randomly to participate in the study and 339 complete the questionnaires making a response rate of 88%. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to screen depression. Descriptive and inferential analysis were done.

The majority of respondents 83.8% (n=284) had depression. Among them 17.9% (n=61) had moderately severe to severe depression while 81.9% (n=223) had minimal to moderate depression. A statistically significant association was found between age and depression (p=0.01) also between gender and depression (p=0.02). Significance was determined at P<0.05.

we found a high prevalence of depression among patients with diabetes. The regular screening of depression among these patients is recommended.