Depression and associated factors among primary school adolescents with hearing impairment in Kampala district, Uganda: A cross-sectional study

A large number of adolescents with hearing impairment experience socio-emotional and structural challenges that may put them at risk for depression. However, depression is often undiagnosed among them due to lack of appropriate, culturally relevant tools for its assessment. This study set out to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors in this vulnerable population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents aged 10–17 years with hearing impairment, attending three primary schools of the deaf across Kampala City in Uganda. Depression was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents (MINI-KID), which underwent linguistic adaptation and translation into Ugandan Sign Language through a collaborative process involving sign language teachers and students, and administered in video format to ensure clarity and inclusion. Data were analyzed with Stata version 17. Modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors was used to examine associations. A total of 116 adolescents participated (mean age = 14.5 ± 1.9 years; 51.7% female). The lifetime prevalence of depression was 60.3%, with point prevalence at 34.5%. Depression was more frequent among females, though these differences were not statistically significant. Living in father-only households was associated with higher likelihood of depression (IRR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.60–2.77 p < 0.001), while not experiencing or witnessing excessive disciplinary measures at school was associated with a lower likelihood of depression (IRR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49–0.87, p = 0.003). Using a linguistically adapted version of the MINI-KID, we found that depression is highly prevalent among adolescents with hearing impairment in Kampala. Strengthening family support, improving access to sign language-trained professionals, and implementing inclusive school-based interventions are key to identifying and managing depression in this population.