Risk Factors For Depression Among Medical Personnel Working at Governmental Health Facilities in Alhasahesa City, Sudan

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers are exposed to a higher risk of depressive disorders than the general population related to their working conditions which may succumb them to some clinical depression. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors of depression among governmental healthcare workers in Alhasahesa city, Sudan. Methodology: This is a descriptive hospital-based study with stratified random sampling, conducted among governmental healthcare workers. The study enrolled 208 participants, included both gender; their ages ranged between 20 to 59 years. The study variables included sociodemographic factors, work related factors and health factors . The required data was collected by predesigned questionnaire in addition to two scales (Beck's Scale for depression and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD,s Scale) . Data was analyzed using Medical Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. Results: The participants were 208 governmental healthcare workers, 123 (59.1%) of them were females and 85 (40.9%) were males their age ranging between 20 and 59 years. According to Beck scale of depression, (77.9%) of participants were normal while (51.0%) were normal in hospital anxiety and depression scale. On the other hand, hospital anxiety and depression scale showed a variation between depression risk factors association. Moreover; the study reflected that socio demographic factors such gender, age, and marital status, daily working hours, work relations had insignificances association among risk factors of depression. Work related variables including job, academic qualifications job satisfaction, working conditions and years of employment were found to be significantly as risk factors for depression. 64.4% of participants were optimistic towards the future. Conclusion: The governmental healthcare workers in Alhasahesa city were exposed to considerable risk factors of depression. Entire results deduced by Beck’ scale of depression showed that job variable have significant association as risk factor for depression between tested variables. 22.1% of the study population have variable level of depression ranging from mild to severe according to Beck scale while 41% suffering from depression according to hospital anxiety and depression scale . The study emphasizes on much attention and further studies needs to be done to alleviate the negative impact of the risk factors of depression among this study population