Chronic diseases, lack of medications, and depression among Syrian refugees in Jordan, 2013-2014

• Published in: Preventing chronic disease Vol. 12; p. E10
• Main Authors: Gammouh, Omar Salem, Al-Smadi, Ahmed Mohammad, Tawalbeh, Loai Issa, Khoury, Laurice Sami
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29.01.2015
• Series: Peer Reviewed
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antidepressive Agents - supply & distribution; Chronic Disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - drug therapy; Depression - ethnology; Ethnic Groups; Female; Health Status; Humans; Jordan - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Original Research; Prevalence; Quality of Life; Refugees - statistics & numerical data; Syria - ethnology; Young Adult; Jordan; Syria
• DOI: 10.5888/pcd12.140424
• ISSN: 1545-1151

Studying mental and physical health problems in refugees facilitates providing suitable health care, thus improving their quality of life. We studied depression tendency in Syrian refugees in Jordan in the light of chronic diseases and medication availability. Also, depression prevalence and depression comorbidity with chronic diseases were identified. In this multicenter cross-sectional survey, data from Syrian refugees attending Caritas centers in 6 Jordanian cities from November 2013 through June 2014 were analyzed. Participants' demographics, depression, previously diagnosed chronic diseases, and newly diagnosed chronic diseases and the availability of medications were studied. Logistic regression was used to examine predictors for depression. Of 765 refugees who participated, about one-third demonstrated significant depression as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory. Descriptive analyses showed that depression was comorbid in 35% of participants with previously diagnosed chronic diseases and in 40% of participants with newly diagnosed chronic diseases. Newly diagnosed chronic diseases and lack of medications significantly contributed to depression, but the regression model as a whole explained less than 5% of the variance. Because the regression model showed low effect size, we concluded that newly diagnosed chronic diseases and medication shortages could not predict depression in Syrian refugees residing in Jordan. Therefore, further studies of additional factors are recommended. Prompt measures have to be taken to prevent the spread of chronic diseases and improve mental health in this fragile population.