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.