Prevalence Of Depression Among Diabetic Patients Attending Diabetic Clinic At Thika Level 5 Hospital

Abstract

The study topic is on prevalence of depression among diabetic patients. Both males and females suffer from depression and also from diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression on newly diagnosed diabetic patients and also to determine the socio demographic correlates of depression among diabetic patients. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted in the year 2012 among patients who attended the diabetic clinic with a laboratory and a clinical evidence of Diabetis mellitus. The respondents in this research are above 18years old, have been diagnosed as diabetic for the last one year and are attending diabetic clinic in Thika Level 5 Hospital and they should not have been diagnosed with depression prior to the onset of diabetes. Broadly, the objective is to determine the prevalence of depression among adult diabetic patients visiting Thika Level 5 Hospital and specifically, prevalence of depression among newly diagnosed adult diabetic patients and the socio demographic correlates of depression among diabetic patients.

Convenience sampling technique was used to identify the sample. Standardized questionnaire and a checklist were administered to collect data. The data collected was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences computer programme (SPSS) version 13 and presented inform of frequency tables, bar charts and pie charts. The study demonstrated the prevalence of depression in patients presenting with diabetes at the Thika level 5 Hospital. The study results were documented, analysed and the findings communicated to the health care givers who will use that information to better the management of newly diagnosed diabetic patients.

The results reflect the need to screen diabetic patients for depression to enable early detection and treatment.

There will be need by the care givers to find new ways to integrate medical and psychological care with social and behavioral interventions for those patients with cormobidity of diabetes and depression.