Prevalence and predictors of depression among midwives working in public hospitals in Amhara regional state in selected zones, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Introduction Depression among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia is prevalent, and the burden remains high. However, few studies have addressed this issue in Ethiopia, and none have specifically focused on midwives in the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression and identify its predictors among midwives working in public hospitals in the West Gojjam, East Gojjam, and Central Gondar zones of the Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed between February and March 2022. The study was conducted among midwives who were working at public hospitals located in the three randomly selected clusters/zones in the Northwest Amhara region. There were 31 functional hospitals (4 tertiary hospitals, 3 general hospitals, and 24 primary hospitals) in the selected clusters. A simple random sampling technique was used for health facilities, and cluster sampling was employed for the selection of study participants. A self-administered questionnaire, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), was used to assess midwives' depression status. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26.0. Both binary and multivariable logistic regression were used. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was considered at a p-value of ≤0.05. Results A total of 634 midwives participated in this study. The prevalence of depression among midwives was 25.7% (95% CI: 22.4-29.0). In multivariable analysis, being female (AOR=3.85; 95% CI: 2.29-6.46, p=0.001) and having a history of stress (AOR=5.56; 95% CI: 2.02-15.26, p=0.001) were significant predictors of depression. Participants who had work experience of fewer than 5 years (AOR=0.51; 95% CI: 0.31-0.84, p=0.008) and those who were unmarried (AOR=2.00; 95% CI: 1.24-3.25, p=0.005) were also found to be significant predictors of depression. Conclusions There was a high prevalence of work-related depression symptoms among midwives working in Amhara region public hospitals. Being female, unmarried, having less work experience, and a history of stress were variables significantly associated with depression among midwives. Therefore, raising awareness through education about depression and implementing routine screening among midwives working in Amhara region public hospitals is crucial for early detection and management. Furthermore, for researchers, it is better to use both qualitative and quantitative study designs for further understanding of depression.