Browsing by Author "Saron Wondimu"

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    Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among People Seeking Treatment at an Outpatient Level at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital
    (Addis Ababa University, 2024-10) Saron Wondimu; Assefa Berihun (PhD)
    This study examined the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) among patients at the outpatient department of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mental health issues like DAS are frequently overlooked in outpatient settings, despite their significant impact on patients' well-being and overall health. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from 294 participants using the DASS-21 scale, a standardized tool for measuring depression, anxiety, and stress. Socio-demographic information, including age, gender, marital status, education level, income, illness duration, and the outpatient department (OPD) they attended, was also collected. The results showed that 65.3% of participants experienced depression, 60.8% anxiety, and 70.1% stress, with 26.5%, 14.6%, and 18.0% classified as extremely severe cases of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Marital status, income level, and OPD department were significant factors affecting DAS levels, with divorced/widowed individuals, those earning less than 5000 Birr per month, and patients from the Oncology department reporting higher levels of mental distress. No significant differences were found based on age or education level. Patients from the Oncology department exhibited significantly higher anxiety and stress levels compared to Internal Medicine patients. These findings highlight the critical need for integrating mental health services into outpatient care settings in Ethiopia. Targeted interventions, especially for divorced/widowed individuals, low-income groups, and high-risk OPD patients, can better address patients' mental health needs and improve outcomes. Keywords Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Outpatients