Prevalence of Clinical Depression and Anxiety among Adolescents in Selected Public Secondary Schools in Homabay County, Kenya

Moureen Adhiambo Nyayieka, Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology; Stella Nyagwencha, Ph.D; & Solomon Nzyuko, Ph.D., Daystar University.

Abstract

WHO (2019) reported that mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury among adolescents, but most cases are undetected and untreated. This study aimed at unveiling the prevalence of clinical depression and anxiety among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Homabay County in Kenya. Data was collected from 783 adolescents who were screened for depressive and anxiety symptoms using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Respondents aged 14-16 were 16.5% (479) while those aged 17-19 were 38.5% (300) respectively. The study found that the prevalence of clinical depression among respondents was 57.5%. The proportion was higher among females at 30.1% compared to males at 27.4%. The frequency was more among younger respondents aged 14-16 at 33.2% than the older respondents aged 17-19 at 24.5%. Similarly, the prevalence of anxiety was 49.4% with a higher frequency among female respondents at 26.1% than the males at 23.4%. Likewise, the frequency of anxiety was higher among younger respondents aged 14-16 at 29.9% compared to the older respondents at 19.5%. Depression and anxiety were found to be issues among adolescents that should be a clinical concern for mental health service providers.

Keywords: prevalence, depression, anxiety, adolescents, selected public secondary schools