Journal of Depression and Anxiety
Open Access

Abstract

Prevalence of Depression among University Students in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sintayehu Tsegaye Bitew*, Habtamu Belay Hailu, Abebe Feyissa Amhare, Fekede Weldekidan, Asnake Fantu Dejene

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly occurring mental disorders globally and it is increasingly prevalent among university students. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among university students in Ethiopia.

Method: The studies were identified from data base of PubMed, Google Scholar and reference lists of previous studies. All cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of depression among university students in Ethiopia was included. In order to transform the prevalence of extracted studies we have used Freeman-Tukey transformation (arcsine square root transformation and the pooled proportion was calculated using the back transformation of the weighted mean of the transformed proportions, using inverse arcsine variance weights for the fixed effects model and DerSimonian-Laird weights for the random effects model. The Cochrane Q test and I2 test statistic was used to test heterogeneity across studies. Meta regression was performed to explore source of heterogeneity between studies and evidence of publication bias was also be assessed.

Results: The analysis of thirteen studies, according to the Der Simonian-Laird random effects model, revealed that the pooled prevalence of depression among the Ethiopian university students was 34.0% (95% CI: 28.7%, 39.6%). The included articles exhibited high heterogeneity, that is I2=94.58% and heterogeneity chi-square=221.46 (df=12) pvalue< 0.001. Accordingly, it is indicative to use random effect model. But the Egger weighted regression statistics (p=0.31) and Begg rank correlation statistics (p=0.18) indicated no evidence of publication bias.

Conclusion: In light of the results of the present review, future research on the prevalence of depression and associated factors among higher education students should be conducted.

Published Date: 2025-01-20; Received Date: 2023-11-22