Abstract
Background Depression is a common psychological disorder in women with infertility, which causes significant morbidity and mortality. Little attention is currently given to depression by health care providers who manage infertility, and there is a scarcity of studies on depression among women with infertility in northern Nigeria. Objective This study aimed at assessing the association between family functionality, sociodemographic factors, and depression severity in women with infertility attending a gynecology clinic in northwest Nigeria. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 415 females systematically selected from women with infertility attending a gynecology clinic in a Nigerian hospital. They were interviewed using Beck's Depression Inventory and Family APGAR (Adaptability, Partnership, Growth, Affection, Resolve) questionnaires over 12 weeks. Data regarding participants' sociodemographic and infertility characteristics were also collected. The association between categorical variables was assessed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The determinants of depression severity were assessed using logistic regression analysis. A p -value of<0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean age of respondents was 30.96.6 years; the prevalence of depression was 44.6% (32.5% were of mild severity). Most families (73.5%) were highly functional. Association between family functionality and depression severity was not statistically significant (chi-square =5.143, p =0.259). Respondents' religion (chi-square=10.813, p =0.029), education (chi-square=36.835, p =0.001), and monthly income (chi-square=9.261, p =0.010) were associated with depression severity. Being a Muslim (odds ratio [OR]=2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.85.6, p =0.001) and having formal education (OR=10.2, 95% CI=4.716.5, p =0.001) were determinants of depression severity. Conclusion The prevalence of depression was high among the respondents. Although no association was found between family functionality and depression severity, respondents who are Muslims or had formal education were at increased risk of depression. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for depression and holistic care is required to manage women with infertility.
Copyright
Association for Helping Neurosurgical Sick People. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Derivative-Non Commercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit.
Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License, which permits unrestricted reproduction and distribution, for non-commercial purposes only; and use and reproduction, but not distribution, of adapted material for non-commercial purposes only, provided the original work is properly cited.
