Prevalence and associated factors of depression among junior healthcare professionals of public teaching hospitals of Bangladesh: An analytical cross-sectional study

Due to the significant number and its effects on quality of life, depression is becoming a major concern worldwide. Though its prevalence among junior healthcare professionals is also increasing day by day, still very few data are available regarding this. So, weve conducted a study to find out the prevalence and associated factors of depression among this vulnerable population. A total of 218 participants were enrolled from two public teaching tertiary-level hospitals in Dhaka, Bangladesh from October 2018 to April 2019. Data were collected by using a self-administered questionnaire including the WHO-5 well-being index. Prevalence of major depression was found at 17.9% and poor-emotional well-being was 25.2%. Factors associated independently with major depression were those thinking to be a doctor as the wrong decision (aRRR: 6.85, 95% CI: 1.40-33.45, p=0.017) and taking sedative or anxiolytic drugs (aRRR: 4.54, 95% CI: 1.50-13.73, p=0.007). On the other hand, doing physical exercise (aRRR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12-0.89, p=0.028) and being satisfied in their current job position (aRRR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02-0.29, p<0.001) had significantly less chance of being suffering of major depression. Suicidal and self-hurting ideation was also found among 23.4% of participants. If these modifiable factors can be addressed properly and by taking necessary steps against these simply identifiable factors, unwanted incidences can be prevented especially in low- and middle-income countries. What is already known on this topicDepression is common among healthcare professionals but is still neglected especially in low- and middle-income countries. What this study addsThinking of being a doctor as the wrong decision, taking sleeping pills, not doing physical exercise, and being not satisfied in their current job position are associated with depression among junior healthcare professionals. Suicidal and self-hurting ideation were also found high among the participants. How this study might affect research, practice or policyEarly identification of major depression by simple factors may help to initiate prompt strategies that will reduce the burden of depression among junior healthcare professionals and may improve the healthcare services of low- and middle-income countries.