MAGNITUDE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG ADULTS CHRONIC SKIN DISEASE AT TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associatedwith depression in adults suffering from chronic skin diseases in Tertiaryhospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based crosssectionalstudy was conducted with 314 participants from outpatientdermatology clinics across three randomly selected Tertiary hospitals. Datawere gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire, and both bivariate andmultivariate analyses were performed to identify associations, with asignificance threshold set at p < 0.05. Results: The study revealed adepression prevalence of 32.8% among these adults. Significant associationswith depression were identified, particularly with female sex, younger age,monthly income, a family history of mental illness, and body imagedisturbance. Conclusion and Recommendations: The findings underscorethe critical nature of depression in adults with chronic skin diseases andhighlight key risk factors. The study advocates for regular depressionscreenings at care points, the formation of multidisciplinary teams that includedermatologists and mental health professionals, and the development ofmental health policies tailored to the needs of this patient population.