PREVALENCE OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AMONG PARENTS OF PREGNANT TEENAGERS AT AIC IN WAMUNYU DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL
Abstract
Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of major depressive disorder among parents of pregnant teenagers at AIC in Wamunyu District Church Council, Machakos County, Kenya
Problem statement: Statistics published by the World Health Organization (2020) showed that teenage/adolescent pregnancies are a global problem, and they occur in high-, middle- and low-income countries across the globe. However, WHO indicates that this phenomenon is more likely to occur in communities that are marginalized, driven by poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and disadvantaged communities. Statistics from African teenage pregnancy indicate that the phenomenon is on the rise. The systematic review of 52 studies among 254,350 participants from 24 countries from East, West, Central, North, and Southern Africa sub-regions showed the overall pooled prevalence of adolescent/teenage pregnancy in Africa was 18.8% and 19.3% in the Sub-Saharan African region. The same review showed that the prevalence of teenage pregnancy was highest in East Africa at 21.5% and lowest in Northern Africa at 9.2%. Consequently, according to a report, the rate of teen pregnancy in Kenya is becoming the highest in the world. When this happens, parents of teenage mothers are likely to undergo serious psychosocial challenges. Among these, is possibly high levels of Major Depressive Disorder. If this trend is not reversed, it is most likely that these parents will continue recording negative health outcomes.
Method/methodology: The study adopted a quasi-experimental design because the participants will be selected and assigned by the researcher and not by randomization. The study population included the parents of 378,397 teenagers aged 10-19 years who got pregnant in Kenya. The target population in this study will comprise all the parents of pregnant teenagers in Machakos County. A total sample size of 108 participants was used. Beck’s Depression Inventory was used to assess the prevalence of MDD. Multivariance Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), Binary logistic regression, and independent sample T test were used to determine significant factor affecting MDD. ANOVA was done, and chi-square statistics were used to show differences between the independent and dependent variables.
Results of the study: The analysis revealed that none of the participants scored within the "Minimal Depression" range (0-9). A small group of participants, 8 (7.6%), scored in the "Mild Depression" range (10-18). The majority of participants, 49 (46.7%), were categorized as having "Moderate Depression," with scores ranging from 19 to 29. A similar proportion, 48 (45.7%), fell within the "Severe Depression" category, scoring between 30 and 63.
Conclusion and policy recommendation: The findings concluded that majority of the parents of teenage mothers (92.4%) had moderate to severe MDD. Recommendations were made to implement interventions that would support these parents.
Key Words: Prevalence, Major Depressive Disorder, Teenage Mothers
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