Prevalence and risk factors of depression among people who attended the Gaza war in 2024 and who fled Palestine — a cross-sectional study

Abstract Aim According to the World Health Organization (WHO), war-affected populations suffer from mental health disorders at double the rate of the general population, where depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) were the most commonly reported mental health conditions. The ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has resulted in the displacement of an estimated 100,000 Palestinians fleeing Gaza through Egypt between October 2023 and May 2024. This study aims to identify the prevalence and severity of depression among individuals aged 18 years and older who fled outside Palestine due to the Gaza war. A cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2024. Subjects and methods The sample consisted of 383 adults who attended the Gaza war. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess the presence and severity of depression. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the association between sociodemographic, traumatic exposure, or displacement with the presence of depression. Results The prevalence of depression was 96.9%. Half of them suffer from severe depression. Gender, nationality, and current income were found to be significant risk factors for depression. Females were found at higher risk for depression compared with males. No significant differences were identified in depression existence according to the number of displacements during the war and being present during previous wars. Conclusion This study revealed a high prevalence of depression among people who attended the Gaza war in 2024 and fled Palestine. Gender, nationality, and current income were risk factors for depression.