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Background: The increasing prevalence of adolescent depression has become a significant public health concern globally. Understanding the connection between diet quality and depression at an early stage offers valuable clinical insights and may help prevent future mental health issues. However, research on this association among adolescents in Addis Ababa remains limited.
Objectives: To determine the magnitude of depressive symptoms and its association with diet quality among adolescents aged 11 - 19 years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Methods: A community-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data analysis. Secondary data was collected using a data extraction sheet. Young people aged between 10- 19 years in in Addis Ababa were selected. Descriptive analyses were used to calculate frequencies and percentages. Binary logistic regression assessed the association between diet and depression, while multivariable logistic regression controlled for potential confounders.
Results: A total of 1,384 adolescents participated. The prevalence of depression was 3.83% (95% CI: 2.93%–4.98%). A significant association was found between a high-risk dietary pattern and depression severity (AOR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.05–8.42; p = 0.041). Additionally, being female and alcohol use were significantly associated with higher odds of depression.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The prevalence of depression among adolescents was relatively low. However, poor diet quality, female sex, and alcohol use were associated with higher depression risk. Efforts should be made to raise parental awareness regarding diet and mental health. Schools should also implement programs to promote healthy eating and improve the quality of school feeding initiatives. |
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