Family support and depression in Ilesa, South Western Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between family support and depression among patients attending the Family Practice Clinic in Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, South Western Nigeria.
Method: Two hundred and fifty (250) subjects were assessed with a 20-item validated measure of Perceived Family Support, and the presence of depressive symptoms using a validated Yoruba version of Zung’s Depression Scale.

Results: Of the 250 subjects, one hundred and forty nine (59.6%) had clinically significant depressive symptoms. The proportion of depressed subjects who lived below poverty level was significantly greater than that of non- depressed subjects (p=0.002). Subjects with poor family support were almost two times more likely to have depression than subjects with good family support {p = 0.018, O.R =1.87 (95% CI = 1.07-2.37)}.
Conclusion: Family support appears to be an important factor associated with depressive illness in the study population. In developing countries like Nigeria, strengthening and preserving family networks constitute a valuable resource for promoting psychological well-being.
Keywords: Family support, depression,
Family Practice, South Western, Nigeria