Prevalence and factors associated with major depressive disorder in children and adolescents at the Uganda Cancer Institute

Table 1 Socio-demographic, clinical and psycho-social variables of children and adolescents with Cancer at UCI outpatient clinic

Socio-demographic variables	N = 352	Percentage%
Age category (years)
Children (7–9)	115	32.67
Adolescents (10–17)	237	67.33
Gender
Male	240	68.18
Female	112	31.82
Orphanhood status
Both parents alive	279	79.30
Single Orphan	61	17.30
Double Orphan	12	3.40
Ethnic group according to region
Western Uganda	80	22.70
Northern Uganda	66	18.60
Eastern Uganda	72	20.50
Central region	110	31.30
Foreigners	24	6.81
Psychosocial variables
Negative coping strategies
Denial
Yes	141	40.1
No	211	59.9
Self-blame
Yes	56	15.9
No	296	84.1
Substance use
Yes	17	4.8
No	335	95.2
Behavioural disengagement
Yes	173	49.2
No	179	50.8
Positive coping strategies
Self-distraction
Yes	250	71
No	102	29
Active Coping
Yes	329	93.5
No	23	6.5
Use of emotional support
Yes	301	85.5
No	51	14.5
Use of instrumental support
Yes	295	83.8
No	57	16.2
Acceptance
Yes	190	54
No	162	46
Positive reframing
Yes	223	63.4
No	129	36.6
Use of religion
Yes	264	75
No	88	25
Perception of social support
A special person in patient’s life
Yes	292	83.8
No	60	16.2
Emotional Support from family
Yes	293	83.2
No	59	16.8
Friends in the patient’s life
Yes	290	82.4
No	62	17.6
Family help
Yes	292	83
No	60	17
Clinical variables
A family history of depression
Yes	127	36.1
No	225	63.9
HIV/AIDS
Yes	47	13.4
No	233	86.6
Cancer stage
I	31	8.8
II	45	12.8
III	80	22.7
IV	49	13.9
Other	150	42.6
Cancer category
Lymphomas	152	43.2
Leukaemia’s	94	26.7
Embryonal tumours	49	13.9
Primary bone tumours	14	4.0
Others	43	12.2
Treatment duration
0–12 months	239	68.0
12–36 months	103	29.3
> 36 months	10	2.8

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