KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS PREVENTING DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS AT KAMPALA SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES, WAKISO DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mind, and thoughts that affect the way one eats, sleeps, feels about him or herself, and thinks about things. The study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices towards preventing depression among students at Kampala School of Health Sciences, Wakiso district.

 Methodology

A cross-sectional study using quantitative data collection methods. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 50 respondents. The study included students aged 18-32 years.

 Results

The majority of the respondents (92%) had never heard of depression before, and the other (8%) had never heard of depression. The majority (60%) heard of depression at school, and the least (4%) heard of it from religious gatherings. The majority (39%) knew suicidal ideation as a symptom of depression while the least (9%) knew lack of sleep as a symptom. The majority (64%) ticked Yes that they would disclose if they were depressed, and the least (36%) ticked No that they would not disclose. The majority (40%) ticked that talk to a close friend to prevent depression after an undesirable incident and the least (24%) talked to their parents to prevent depression after an undesirable incident, the majority (36%) ticked talking to a school counselor as the most helpful practice of prevention of depression among students and the least (12%) ticked keeping problem to self as the most helpful practice of prevention of depression.

 Conclusion

The knowledge of depression among students was generally good. The overall altitude was poor as most of the respondents believed that depressed people were dangerous.

 Recommendation

The administration of Kampala School of Health Sciences should introduce an Adolescent Depression Awareness Program in its school curriculum for all students despite the course being pursued.