Incidents of Depression Among House Wives in Azare Town, Katagum Local Government, Bauchi State

Vollständiger Abstract

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Depression among housewives has become a growing mental health concern, particularly in traditional communities where women are burdened with multiple socio-cultural expectations. This study assessed incidents of depression among housewives in Azare Town, Bauchi State, with specific focus on feelings of sadness, household responsibilities, and emotional disturbances as contributing factors. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, and a total population of 150 registered housewives with depression at selected Primary Health Care Centres in Katagum LGA was purposively sampled. A self-structured questionnaire validated by experts in Health Education was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage, while Chi-square test was employed to answer the research questions at 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that feelings of sadness significantly contribute to depression among housewives, with socio-cultural and economic challenges being major triggers. The study also found that the burden of household responsibilities and emotional disturbances such as marital conflict, financial stress, and lack of recognition increase the likelihood of depression. These findings are consistent with previous studies highlighting the psychological stress faced by housewives in Nigeria. The study concludes that there is urgent need for social, emotional, and institutional support systems for housewives in Azare Town. It recommends community-based mental health awareness programs, equitable household task-sharing, and improved access to counseling services to reduce the incidence of depression in this population