Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Type 2 diabetes Patients in Selected Sub-County Hospitals in Murang’a County, Kenya

Rahab Karanja, Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology, Daystar University; Stella Nyagwencha, Ph.D., United States University-Africa; & George Kimathi, Ph.D., Catholic University of East Africa

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that needs long-term management, and it may lead to the development of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The main objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients in two selected Sub-County Hospitals in Murang’a County, Kenya. Prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was also determined by use of frequency across various socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, religion, occupation, education level and marital status. This study involved male and female patients aged 30-70 years attending follow up clinics at least three months before commencement of the study. Purposive sampling method was used to select participants of the study (n=161) who were then screened for depression and anxiety symptoms. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics. Screening for depression and anxiety symptoms was done using self-administered Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Inventory respectively. The prevalence of depression and anxiety in this study was 85.1% and 95.7% respectively. This study recommended routine screening for depression and anxiety symptoms in clinical setting among people with T2DM. This may be crucial in making appropriate referrals, early detection, proper diagnosis, treatment, and recommendations.

Keywords: Prevalence, depression, anxiety, type 2 diabetes mellitus