Introduction: Mental depression is the most common mental health illness. The burden related to this condition is very important worldwide. Depression represents a highly prevalent public health concern in Cameroon, particularly within the city Yaounde. Young adults aged 20-40 years, searching for life stability, and consulting general medical practitioners are vulnerable. This study was to analyze factors associated to the onset of depression among young adults at the Yaounde Central Hospital (YCH). Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study was conducted among 124 participants aged 20-40 years at the YCH. Data was collected through two questionnaires between October and November 2019. Chi-square tests and logistic polytomous regression were performed using CSPRO 7.3, SPSS.25, STATA & SPAD softwares. Results: The mean age was 33.19 ±6.19, with 54.8% women and 45.2% men. Moderate depression was the most represented (53.2%). Depression’s onset was significantly associated to educational level (P=0.016), the experience of work-related sexual harassment (P=0.003), having suffered from a chronic illness (P=0.022) and social isolation (P=0.000). Individuals with a not higher than primary educational level were 3.18 (P=0.003; 95% C.I. 0.52-32.67) times more prone to develop severe rather than moderate depression, compared to their highly educated counterparts. The risk for severe depression was 10.31 (95% C.I 5.22- 12.60) times greatly increased among those that reported work-related sexual harassment. Conclusions: A focus should therefore be placed on strategies ensuring young adults’ mental wellbeing within the social, academic, professional and clinical spheres.

Keywords: Factors associated, mental depression, young adults, Yaounde Central Hospital

Therese ANDELA KOUNOU