article · PLoS ONE
A cross-sectional investigation assessed the prevalence and associated risk factors of depressive symptoms among 336 randomly selected incarcerated individuals in Debre Berhan prison, Ethiopia. Most participants were male. Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 screening tool with a cut-off score of five or higher, the study recorded a depression prevalence rate of 44 percent. Multiple independent factors significantly raised the likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms. These factors included being widowed, attaining a college or university education, having a prior history of suicide attempts, experiencing severe stressful life events, serving a prison sentence of five to ten years, and living with a chronic medical illness. In light of this substantial burden, developing focused strategies for early mental health screening and clinical treatment in prison facilities is vital.
Depression is a primary driver of suicide attempts and a common mental health disorder within correctional facilities. Identifying the high prevalence and specific vulnerability factors among inmates highlights the urgent need for structured mental health screening, psychiatric support, and preventative care programmes within institutional healthcare systems.
The findings could inform the design and deployment of tailored mental health screening toolkits and clinical triage workflows for correctional facilities. Relevant end users include prison health administrations, public health agencies, and mental health non-governmental organisations. Because this research is an observational baseline study, operational screening and treatment programmes remain at an early development stage.
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BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental disorder among prisoners characterized by a mood change involving a feeling of sadness, lack of interest, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer. Besides imprisonment, depression is the primary factor leading to suicidal attempts. However, little is known about the depressive status of prisoners in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the magnitude and associated factors of depressive symptoms among prisoners of Debre Berhan prison. METHODS: We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional study. We collected data from 336 randomly selected prisoners using interviewer-administered Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We collected the data from May 3 to 28, 2015, and performed binary logistic regression to identify independent predictors of depressive disorder. RESULT: Out of the total of 336 prisoners, 98% (n = 330) were males. Using PHQ-9 at the cut-off point of ≥5, we found the prevalence of depression to be 44% (n = 148). Being widowed (AOR = 6.30; CI: 1.09-36.67), having a college or university level educational status (AOR = 5.34; CI:1.59-17.94), having a history of suicide attempt (AOR = 2.76 CI: 1.04-7.31), having faced severe stressful life events (AOR = 2.57; CI: 1.41-4.67), being sentenced for 5 to 10 years (AOR = 2.51; CI:1.32-4.79), and having a history of chronic medical illness (AOR = 3.32 CI: 1.26-8.75) were found to be independently associated with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence of depression among prisoners of Debre Berhan prison. Hence, designing strategies for early screening and treatment of depression at prisons is crucial.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220267
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