Depression in Adults with a Physical Disability; An Institution Based Cross Sectional Study

Background: Depressions in person with physical disabilities are three times more common than in the general population. In Ethiopia, there are an estimated 15 million persons with disabilities. Despite the high burden of disability, very little is known about it; for this reason, the current study aimed at determining the magnitude of depression and its associated factors among adults with a physical disability. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional type conducted on individuals with a physical disability registered in Gondar physical disability’s rehabilitation and vocational center. All individuals with a physical disability attending the rehabilitation center were enrolled in the study. Face to face interview technique was used to evaluate the existence of depression and its determinants. In this study, the Beck Depression Inventory scale II was used to assess the status of depression. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to see the strength, as well as the direction of the association between Depression and independent variables. Results: The study found that the frequency of depression was determined as 75.5%. Having a perceived internal stigma 5.03 (AOR=5.03 (95% CI: 2.30, 9.99), Poor social support (5.36 (AOR=5.36 (95% CI: 2.41, 10.8) and those who consume alcohol (2.77 (AOR=2.77 (1.24, 6.17) were associated likely to have depression. Conclusion: In this study, depression found to be a major health problem among adults with a physical disability. Early detection and regular screening for depression to give timely treatment as well as make the training fruitful, designing educational programs to build the community’s awareness to providing good social support and creating a sense of confidence and self-reliance in people with a physical disability would be helpful.