Prevalence and associated factors of depression among adult outpatients treated for cancer at ocean road cancer institute in dar es salaam

Background: Depression is among the public health problems across the world and the leading cause of disability. A cancer diagnosis can lead to depression with global and Tanzania prevalence of 24% and 28% respectively. However, the associated factors of Depression in Cancer Patients in Tanzania have not been studied. This study seeks more recent information on the prevalence as well as the associated factors, and the results intend to raise awareness among healthcare providers on the importance of early diagnosis and management of depression in cancer patients. Aim: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression among cancer patients at Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar es Salaam. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, using consecutive random sampling. Logistic regression was applied for the identification of independently associated factors. Results: The prevalence of depression is 62.6% among 369 participants. A higher risk of depression was found in those with Low levels of education,low perceived social support, low general self-efficacy, and low level of hope. Conclusion: This study shows depression in cancer patients is high, which can lead to poor prognosis of cancer; hence the need for psychosocial interventions at cancer centers.