Déterminants de la Dépression chez les Étudiants de la Faculté des Sciences de la Santé de Cotonou

RESUMEBut. L’objectif de notre etude etait de decrire la prevalence et les determinants de la depression chez les etudiants de la Faculte des Science de la Sante (FSS) de Cotonou. Methodes. Il s’est agi d’une etude transversale descriptive, a visee analytique enquete portant sur un echantillon de 766 sujets. Elle a ete realisee a partir d’un echantillonnage probabiliste, base sur la liste officielle des etudiants de la FSS et des effectifs inscrits par annee d’etude dans les entites a la FSS de Cotonou. La selection des etudiants a ete realisee selon un sondage aleatoire stratifie. Resultats. L’âge moyen des sujets enquetes etait de 20,2 ans ± 2,32, avec des extremes allant de 16 a 35 ans. Pour 84,3%, le choix de la filiere etait fait par decision personnelle (vocation). Le niveau de difficultes des etudes etait juge acceptable pour 60,3%. La prevalence des troubles depressifs chez les etudiants etait de 55,9%. La filiere des etudes medicales avait la prevalence la plus elevee (58,5%). Le sexe, la religion, le stress des gardes hospitalieres, l’absence de satisfaction dans les stages hospitaliers, l’envie d’abandonner les etudes, la difficulte d’adaptation et la perception du niveau de difficulte des etudes etaient les principaux facteurs associes a la survenue des troubles depressifs. Conclusion. La prevalence des troubles depressifs chez les etudiants a la FSS de Cotonou est deux fois plus elevee par rapport a la population generale. Le sexe, la religion, le stress des gardes hospitalieres, l’absence de satisfaction dans les stages hospitaliers, l’envie d’abandonner les etudes, la difficulte d’adaptation et la perception du niveau de difficulte des etudes sont les principaux facteurs associes a la survenue des troubles depressifs. Leur connaissance permet d’envisager l’organisation d’une prise en charge adequate, en vue d’ameliorer la qualite de vie des etudiants.ABSTRACTPurpose. The objective of our study was to describe the prevalence and the factors leading to depression among students at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) of Cotonou. Methods. This was a descriptive cross-sectional analytical study, including a sample of 766 subjects. The selection of students was conducted using a stratified random survey. The parent population was the official list enrolled students of FHS per year of study. Results. The mean age in the sample was 20.2 ± 2.32, with extremes ranging from 16 to 35 years. For 84.3%, the choice of the field of study was determined by the student. The level of difficult of courses was acceptable for 60.3% of students. The prevalence of depressive disorders was 55.9%. Medical students were mostly affected (58.5%). Gender, religion, stress of night calls, poor appreciation of hospital postings, desire to leave school, difficulty of adaptation and perception of inability to cope with the level of difficulty of the studies were the main factors associated the depressive disorders. Conclusion. The prevalence of depressive disorders among students at the FHS of Cotonou is twice as high as in the general population. Gender, religion, stress of night calls, poor appreciation of hospital postings, desire to leave school, difficulty of adaptation and perception of inability to cope with the level of difficulty of the studies are the main factors associated the depressive disorders. This should lead to the implementation of proper measures, in order to improve the quality of life of the students of the FHS.