Associations between water insecurity and depression among refugee adolescents and youth in a humanitarian context in Uganda: cross-sectional survey findings.

Journal: International health

Volume: 15

Issue: 4

Year of Publication: 2023

Affiliated Institutions:  Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, MS V. School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IllinoisUSA, . Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, MT M. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada, LP A. Uganda Refugee and Disaster Management Council, Yumbe, Uganda. National AIDS Coordinating Program, Ugandan Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.

Abstract summary 

Water insecurity is linked to poor mental health through intrapersonal, relational and community-based stressors. We examined water insecurity and depression among refugee youth in Bidi Bidi, Uganda.We conducted a cross-sectional survey and multivariable ordinal logistic regression to examine associations between water insecurity and depression severity, adjusting for gender, resilience, social support and food insecurity.Among participants (n=115; mean age: 19.7 y, SD 2.3), 80.0% reported water insecurity and 18.3% had moderate/severe depression symptoms. Water insecurity was independently associated with higher levels of depression severity (adjusted OR: 5.61; 95% CI 1.20 to 26.30; p=0.03).Findings suggest water insecurity was commonplace and associated with depression. Water insecurity could be integrated in refugee mental health promotion by policymakers and community-based programmers.

Authors & Co-authors:  Logie Carmen H CH Okumu Moses M Loutet Miranda M Berry Isha I Taing Lina L Lukone Simon Odong SO Kisubi Nelson N Sokolovic Nina N Kyambadde Peter P

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Wutich A, Brewis A, Tsai A. Water and mental health. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Water. 7. Epub ahead of print September 1, 2020.
Authors :  9
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1093/inthealth/ihac065
SSN : 1876-3405
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
Uganda;depression;refugee;resource scarcity;water insecurity;youth
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Uganda
Publication Country
England