Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Adult Eritreans in Norway

The higher rates of depression among immigrant populations are often attributed to socioeconomic disadvantage, adverse life events and other pre-migration circumstances and challenges with reintegration process. We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and examine the associated factors among Eritrean immigrants living in Oslo and surrounding areas.

A convenience sample of 243 adult Eritreans, 114 women and 129 men, aged 35.7 (SD 9.7) years were enrolled. A battery of structured instruments was administered to assess the sociodemographic, psychiatric, and acculturation-related variables, including the screening of depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiological studies-Depression scale (CES-D) and major depression (recent 2-weeks and 12 months) using the Major Depression Inventory (MDI). Statistical analyses were conducted using χ²-tests, Student's t-tests, and logistic regression.

The prevalence rates of past week depressive symptoms, current and 12 months' depression in the sample were 0.8%, 1.2% and 16.9% respectively. Factors associated with 12-month depression were increasing age, longer duration of stay since migration, presence of PTSD symptoms and higher number of adverse life events experienced. PTSD symptoms (OR = 4.2 (95% CI: 1.9 to 9.3, p < .001) and the number of adverse life events (OR = 1.05 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.1, p < .001) were identified as independent correlates of 12-month depression.

Every 6th Eritrean in our sample was found to screen positive for 12-month depression, with almost 15% participants reporting that life was not worth living. The study findings call for targeted programmes to address poor mental health among this group of immigrants.