Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Healthcare Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nur Adam Mohamed,1 Yusuf Abdirisak Mohamed,1,2 Tigad Abdisad Ali,3 Adan Ali Gabow,1 Fartun Mohamed Hilowle4 1Mogadishu Somali Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Somali National University, Mogadishu, Somalia; 3Mogadishu Somali Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infection Prevention Control, Mogadishu, Somalia; 4Mogadishu Somali Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Training and Research Hospital, Department of Education, Mogadishu, SomaliaCorrespondence: Nur Adam Mohamed, Mogadishu Somalia Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Research and Training Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mogadishu, Somalia, Email [email protected]: Depression, a prevalent mental health issue, can significantly impact healthcare workers (HCWs), leading to decreased productivity, increased turnover, and high medical errors. However, there is a dearth of information regarding depression among healthcare professionals in Somalia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and risk factors associated with depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals in Mogadishu, Somalia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs at Erdogan Hospital, in the capital city of Somalia. Data was collected using questionnaires on socio demographic, work-related characteristics and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with depressive symptoms. A p-values of 0.05 as a cutoff for a significant association.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals was 48.9% (95% CI: 45.4– 56.9%). In multivariable analysis, being female (AOR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.17– 3.60), being a nurse (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI: 1.14– 8.48), unmarried (AOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.04– 3.21), having insufficient sleep (AOR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.45– 4.70), a family history of mental illness (AOR = 3.31; 95% CI: 1.49– 7.36), lack of physical activity (AOR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.19– 5.62), and having low social support (AOR = 3.06; 95% CI: 1.17– 7.98) were all associated with increased odds of experiencing depressive symptoms.Conclusion: The study showed that nearly half of healthcare professionals experienced depressive symptoms. The study underscores the importance of efficient screening methods for identifying psychological symptoms in healthcare professionals, which is essential for enhancing their mental health and patient care. Therefore, we recommend that healthcare institutions and policymakers develop and implement screening measures to identify and improve the mental health well-being of HCWs, as well as provide high-quality patient care.Keywords: mental health, depressive symptoms, associated factors, healthcare professionals, PHQ-9, Mogadishu, Somalia