Depression and Associated Factors in Children and Adolescents Ages 7 to 14

Abstract

Objective: to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors in children and adolescents from seven to fourteen years old, beneficiaries of the Family Medicine Unit (fmu) No. 9 in Acapulco de Juarez, Guerrero, Mexico. Methods: cross-analytical study conducted from June to August 2017. 238 minors from seven to fourteen years old, who wished to participate in this study, after signed consent and informed assent. Sociodemographic data were asked and the Child Depression questionnaire was applied. For statistical analysis, simple frequencies, prevalence of depression, or, 95% confidence intervals, χ² and statistical significance (p-value) were obtained. Results: the prevalence of depression in the study group was 5.9%, in individuals with weight problems was 11.1%, while for those who had weight within the normal ranges was 2.7%; being overweight and obese is associated with an increased risk of depression with an or of 4.5, 95% ic (1.36-14.8). Conclusion: being overweight and obese are risk factors to develop depression, intentional searches are required to identify potential risks associated with depression in this age group.