Depression is an important public-health problem and is one of the leading causes of disease burden affecting 121 million people worldwide. The life time risk of depression in the general population is higher in women than men. However, the prevalence of depression in those with chronic illnesses is much higher. Depression and chronic illnesses co-exist because of physical changes from the illness trigger the depression resulting in vicious cycle. The prevalence of depression in tuberculosis patients is about 49%. It increases in prevalence with older age, duration of illness, disease severity and HIV Co infection. Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression in the tuberculosis patients and its relationship with regard to socio demographic factors, disease characteristics, treatment factors and HIV infection. Institution based cross sectional survey was conducted by a face to face interview using standardized questioner, the Kessler, which has scores for classifying the patients having depression. It was conducted at Jimma University Specialized Hospital and Jimma Health Center Tuberculosis follow up clinics on 248 patients from January 1 to 29, 2010. In addition, reviewing of records of the patients was done. The study showed that 19.82% of tuberculosis patients were cases of depression from a total of 222 patients that were interviewed. Depression cases were 100% in older age group. From the total female population, depression cases were 25%. In widowed, it was 36.36%. Most of them (32.20%) were those who had attended secondary school. Farmers had higher depressive rate being 61.11%. Regarding disease characteristics, 21.86% of the depressed had pulmonary TB. Those who had illness lasting greater than 1.5 year had higher percentage being 71.43%. Majority of the depressed (26.75%) were in category I and 63.64% in initiation phase. Significant proportions (65.12%) of the depressed were HIV positive (x2=8.08, p-value = 0.001). There was significant percentage of depressed TB patients. The treatment of psychiatric co morbidities should be incorporate in the treatment of TB patients in order to achieve the goal of the Directly Observed Therapy strategy.
Key words: Depression, tuberculosis, prevalence, Ethiopia
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