Depression, anxiety, and physical activity levels among students living with disability during COVID-19 lockdown at Makerere University
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
online or hard copy questionnaires depending on their preference. The Patient Health
depression and anxiety, respectively. Physical activity was classified as meeting recommended
anxiety, and were physically inactive with strong evidence of an association between physical
Questionnaire (PHQ-9)And Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) were used to assess
conditions and further studies to be carried out among university students to clarify the
METHODS
activity recommendations.
COVID-19 lockdown was reported to have increased the burden of depression, anxiety, and
counterparts. This study aimed to establish levels of depression, anxiety, and physical activity
and their potential association among Makerere University students living with a disability
All Makerere University students living with disability were targeted and 102 responded to either
physical inactivity, more so among students living with disability compared to their able-bodied
activity and both depression and anxiety. There is a need for customized physical activity
during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
targets or not depending on the response to a questionnaire designed to capture WHO physical
Most of the students living with disability at Makerere University had high depression, minimal
The results show that (70.6%), (15.7%) &(13.7%) were severely, moderately, and minimally
activity and depression (p-value: 0.045) and anxiety (p-value: 0.037).
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
programs to reduce physically inactive students living with disability to improve both mental
RESULTS AND FINDINGS
depressed, respectively; (1.0%), (43.1%) & (55.9%) had severe, moderate, and minimal anxiety,
respectively; and 67.6 % & 32.4% were physically inactive and physically active, respectively.
including strengths activities. There was also a significant relationship between levels of physical
However, of those categorized as physically active only 18.2% met all the recommendations
association between physical activity and depression and anxiety.