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

Carmen H Logie; Moses Okumu; Miranda Loutet; Isha Berry; Lina Taing; Simon Odong Lukone; Nelson Kisubi; Nina Sokolovic; Peter Kyambadde

doi:10.1093/inthealth/ihac065

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

Carmen H Logie, Moses Okumu, Miranda Loutet, Isha Berry, Lina Taing, Simon Odong Lukone, Nelson Kisubi, Nina Sokolovic, Peter Kyambadde

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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).

Conclusions

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.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	ihac065
Journal	International Health
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihac065
State	Published - Oct 3 2022

Keywords

depression
youth
water insecurity
Uganda
resource scarcity
refugee

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10.1093/inthealth/ihac065License: CC BY-NC

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

abstract = "BackgroundWater 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsAmong 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).ConclusionsFindings 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.",

keywords = "depression, youth, water insecurity, Uganda, resource scarcity, refugee",

author = "Logie, {Carmen H} and Moses Okumu and Miranda Loutet and Isha Berry and Lina Taing and Lukone, {Simon Odong} and Nelson Kisubi and Nina Sokolovic and Peter Kyambadde",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1093/inthealth/ihac065",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "International Health",

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T1 - Associations between water insecurity and depression among refugee adolescents and youth in a humanitarian context in Uganda: cross-sectional survey findings

AU - Logie, Carmen H

AU - Okumu, Moses

AU - Loutet, Miranda

AU - Berry, Isha

AU - Taing, Lina

AU - Lukone, Simon Odong

AU - Kisubi, Nelson

AU - Sokolovic, Nina

AU - Kyambadde, Peter

PY - 2022/10/3

Y1 - 2022/10/3

N2 - BackgroundWater 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsAmong 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).ConclusionsFindings 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.

AB - BackgroundWater 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsAmong 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).ConclusionsFindings 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.

KW - depression

KW - youth

KW - water insecurity

KW - Uganda

KW - resource scarcity

KW - refugee

U2 - 10.1093/inthealth/ihac065

DO - 10.1093/inthealth/ihac065

M3 - Article

C2 - 36192370

SN - 1876-3413

JO - International Health

JF - International Health

M1 - ihac065

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

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