Prevalence and risk factors of depression symptoms among rural and urban populations affected by Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a representative cross-sectional study

Jude Mary Cénat; Pari-Gole Noorishad; Rose Darly Dalexis; Cécile Rousseau; Daniel Derivois; Cyrille Kossigan Kokou-Kpolou; Jacqueline Bukaka; Oléa Balayulu-Makila; Mireille Guerrier

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053375

Prevalence and risk factors of depression symptoms among rural and urban populations affected by Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a representative cross-sectional study

BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 11;12(1):e053375. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053375.

Authors

Jude Mary Cénat¹, Pari-Gole Noorishad², Rose Darly Dalexis³, Cécile Rousseau⁴, Daniel Derivois⁵, Cyrille Kossigan Kokou-Kpolou², Jacqueline Bukaka⁶, Oléa Balayulu-Makila^{5

6}, Mireille Guerrier²

Affiliations

¹ University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada jcenat@uottawa.ca.
² University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
³ Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ McGill University, Montreal, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ Department of Psychology, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, Franche-Comté, France.
⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Congo (the Democratic Republic of the).

Abstract

Objectives: High mortality rates, anxiety and distress associated with Ebola virus disease (EVD) are risk factors for mood disorders in affected communities. This study aims to document the prevalence and risk factors associated with depressive symptoms among a representative sample of individuals affected by EVD.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The current study was conducted 7 months (March 11, 2019 to April 23, 2019) after the end of the ninth outbreak of EVD in the province of Equateur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Participants: A large population-based sample of 1614 adults (50% women, M_age=34.05; SD=12.55) in health zones affected by the ninth outbreak in DRC.

Primary and secondary outcome measures: Participants completed questionnaires assessing EVD exposure level, stigmatisation related to EVD and depressive symptoms. The ORs associated with sociodemographic data, EVD exposure level and stigmatisation were analysed through logistic regressions.

Results: Overall, 62.03% (95% CI 59.66% to 64.40%) of individuals living in areas affected by EVD were categorised as having severe depressive symptoms. The multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that adults in the two higher score categories of exposure to EVD were at two times higher risk of developing severe depressive symptoms (respectively, OR 1.94 (95% CI 1.22 to 3.09); OR 2.34 (95% CI 1.26 to 4.34)). Individuals in the two higher categories of stigmatisation were two to four times more at risk (respectively, OR 2.42 (95% CI 1.53 to 3.83); OR 4.73 (95% CI 2.34 to 9.56)). Living in rural areas (OR 0.19 (95% CI 0.09 to 0.38)) and being unemployed (OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.93)) increased the likelihood of having severe depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Results indicate that depressive symptoms in EVD affected populations is a major public health problem that must be addressed through culturally adapted mental health programs.

Keywords: EVD outbreak; depression; ebola virus disease; exposure to EVD; infectious disease; stigmatisation related to EVD.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Democratic Republic of the Congo / epidemiology
Depression / epidemiology
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola* / epidemiology
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Urban Population

Grants and funding

CIHR/Canada