Abstract:
Background: Depression affects about 1 in 5 children and adolescents globally, while Type 1
Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a growing chronic condition, impacting 1.5 million individuals under
20 worldwide. Depression is more common in individuals with diabetes, creating a dual burden
that impacts both physical and mental health. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence
and predictors of depression among Ethiopian youth living with Type 1 diabetes.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and identify associated factors among
youth with T1DM in the Ethiopian Diabetic Association (EDA).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an institution-based setting. Trained datacollector nurses used paper-based tools to collect data from 491 T1DM youth who were members
of the EDA and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Frequency estimates and logistic regressions were
employed to estimate the prevalence of depression and identify factors associated with depression,
respectively.
Results: The study revealed a 29.9% prevalence of depression among the participants. Factors
significantly associated with depression were being female (AOR = 2.21 (95% CI: 1.40, 3.48)),
higher blood glucose (AOR = 4.19 (95% CI: 2.18,8.05)), the presence of diabetic complications
(AOR =4.07 (95% CI:1.76, 9.41)), and longer duration of diabetes (AOR = 5.80 (95%
CI:2.24,14.99)).
Conclusion and Recommendation: Depression is prevalent among T1DM youth in Ethiopia.