Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study

Abstract Background There is a high prevalence of depression among refugee youth in low- and middle-income countries, yet depression trajectories are understudied. This study examined depression trajectories, and factors associated with trajectories, among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda....

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Main Authors: Zerihun Admassu, Sikky Shiqi Chen, Carmen H. Logie, Moses Okumu, Frannie MacKenzie, Robert Hakiza, Daniel Kibuuka Musoke, Brenda Katisi, Aidah Nakitende, Peter Kyambadde, Lawrence Mbuagbaw
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Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2024-01-01
Series:Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001353/type/journal_article
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author Zerihun Admassu
Sikky Shiqi Chen
Carmen H. Logie
Moses Okumu
Frannie MacKenzie
Robert Hakiza
Daniel Kibuuka Musoke
Brenda Katisi
Aidah Nakitende
Peter Kyambadde
Lawrence Mbuagbaw
author_facet Zerihun Admassu
Sikky Shiqi Chen
Carmen H. Logie
Moses Okumu
Frannie MacKenzie
Robert Hakiza
Daniel Kibuuka Musoke
Brenda Katisi
Aidah Nakitende
Peter Kyambadde
Lawrence Mbuagbaw
author_sort Zerihun Admassu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background There is a high prevalence of depression among refugee youth in low- and middle-income countries, yet depression trajectories are understudied. This study examined depression trajectories, and factors associated with trajectories, among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. Methods We conducted a longitudinal cohort study with refugee youth aged 16–24 in Kampala, Uganda. We assessed depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and conducted latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify depression trajectories. Sociodemographic and socioecological factors were examined as predictors of trajectory clusters using multivariable logistic regression. Results Data were collected from n = 164 participants (n = 89 cisgender women, n = 73 cisgender men, n = 2 transgender persons; mean age: 19.9, standard deviation: 2.5 at seven timepoints; n = 1,116 observations). Two distinct trajectory clusters were identified: “sustained low depression level” (n = 803, 71.9%) and “sustained high depression level” (n = 313, 28.1%). Sociodemographic (older age, gender [cisgender women vs. cisgender men], longer time in Uganda), and socioecological (structural: unemployment, food insecurity; interpersonal: parenthood, recent intimate partner violence) factors were significantly associated with the sustained high trajectory of depression. Conclusions The chronicity of depression highlights the critical need for early depression screening with urban refugee youth in Kampala. Addressing multilevel depression drivers prompts age and gender-tailored strategies and considering social determinants of health.
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spelling doaj-art-4afe10f903d249288dbbc46d2e999c1d2025-08-20T01:56:25ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512024-01-011110.1017/gmh.2024.135Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort studyZerihun Admassu0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1670-8949Sikky Shiqi Chen1Carmen H. Logie2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8035-433XMoses Okumu3Frannie MacKenzie4Robert Hakiza5Daniel Kibuuka Musoke6Brenda Katisi7Aidah Nakitende8Peter Kyambadde9Lawrence Mbuagbaw10Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, BC, Canada Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON, CanadaSchool of Social Work, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA School of Social Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, UgandaFactor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaYoung African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, UgandaInternational Research Consortium (IRC-Kampala), Kampala, UgandaYoung African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, UgandaInternational Research Consortium (IRC-Kampala), Kampala, UgandaMost At Risk Population Initiative Clinic, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda National AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O’Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health (CDBPH), Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa Abstract Background There is a high prevalence of depression among refugee youth in low- and middle-income countries, yet depression trajectories are understudied. This study examined depression trajectories, and factors associated with trajectories, among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. Methods We conducted a longitudinal cohort study with refugee youth aged 16–24 in Kampala, Uganda. We assessed depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and conducted latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify depression trajectories. Sociodemographic and socioecological factors were examined as predictors of trajectory clusters using multivariable logistic regression. Results Data were collected from n = 164 participants (n = 89 cisgender women, n = 73 cisgender men, n = 2 transgender persons; mean age: 19.9, standard deviation: 2.5 at seven timepoints; n = 1,116 observations). Two distinct trajectory clusters were identified: “sustained low depression level” (n = 803, 71.9%) and “sustained high depression level” (n = 313, 28.1%). Sociodemographic (older age, gender [cisgender women vs. cisgender men], longer time in Uganda), and socioecological (structural: unemployment, food insecurity; interpersonal: parenthood, recent intimate partner violence) factors were significantly associated with the sustained high trajectory of depression. Conclusions The chronicity of depression highlights the critical need for early depression screening with urban refugee youth in Kampala. Addressing multilevel depression drivers prompts age and gender-tailored strategies and considering social determinants of health. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001353/type/journal_articledepressionrefugeetrajectoriesyouth
spellingShingle Zerihun Admassu
Sikky Shiqi Chen
Carmen H. Logie
Moses Okumu
Frannie MacKenzie
Robert Hakiza
Daniel Kibuuka Musoke
Brenda Katisi
Aidah Nakitende
Peter Kyambadde
Lawrence Mbuagbaw
Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health
depression
refugee
trajectories
youth
title Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
title_full Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
title_fullStr Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
title_short Sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: A longitudinal cohort study
title_sort sociodemographic factors associated with trajectories of depression among urban refugee youth in kampala uganda a longitudinal cohort study
topic depression
refugee
trajectories
youth
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425124001353/type/journal_article
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