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The prevalence of depression in Iranian children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Leily Mahmudi1, Parvaneh Karimi2, Fatemeh Sadat Arghavan3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran.

Asian Journal of Psychiatry
|March 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Depression is highly prevalent in Iranian children, affecting 42.3% of those studied. This meta-analysis highlights a significant difference compared to global estimates, underscoring the need for targeted interventions for child mental health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Mental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Childhood depression is a growing concern globally.
  • Understanding the prevalence of depression in specific populations, like Iranian children, is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence of depression among children in Iran.
  • To compare depression rates in Iranian children with global estimates.
  • To identify potential factors influencing depression prevalence in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, adhering to MOOSE protocol and PRISMA guidelines.
  • Extensive literature searches were performed across international and Iranian databases until April 2020.
  • Data from 34 studies involving 23,779 Iranian children were synthesized.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of depression in Iranian children was found to be 42.3%.
  • Depression was more prevalent in girls (42.1%) than in boys (29.6%), with a significant odds ratio of 1.33 for females.
  • Prevalence varied across severity levels: mild (20.3%), moderate (15.0%), major (14.5%), and deep (4.3%). Subgroup analyses indicated significant variations based on province and school grade.

Conclusions:

  • Depression is a common condition among Iranian children, with prevalence rates exceeding global averages.
  • The findings underscore the urgent need for early identification and effective treatment strategies for childhood depression in Iran.
  • Further research and public health interventions are warranted to address this significant mental health challenge.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenDepressionIranMeta-analysisPrevalence

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