PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF DEPRESSION AMONG AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN KENYA

Michael Keari OMWENGA; Rose OTIENO; Billiah Nyamoita GISORE

Authors

Michael Keari OMWENGA School of Education, Department of Educational Psychology and Special Needs, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7982-1114
Rose OTIENO School of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3545-3697
Billiah Nyamoita GISORE School of Education, Department of Human Resource, Kisii University, Kisii, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5116-7615

Abstract

Depression is a serious concern among rural families due to the particular difficulties they undergo. These include erratic weather patterns, fluctuating market values, monetary strains, and the social and physical isolation that comes with farming. These problems are made worse by elements like crop failure, income loss, and a lack of support networks, which may raise the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other psychological conditions. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of depression among agricultural households in Kenya. A mixed-method research design approach was used among the targeted rural farmers in Kenya. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 905 farmers who questionnaires and Focused Group Discussion conducted on them during the study. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis on qualitative data by the assistance SPSS version 17 and multilinear regression. The study revealed that The Pearson correlation between depression and agricultural output is -0.039. This figure indicates a very weak negative correlation, meaning that there is a minor tendency for agricultural productivity to decrease when depression levels rise. The significance value (p-value) associated with this connection is 0.615. This implies that the connection is not statistically significant at the 0.05 level, and there is no meaningful relationship between depression and agricultural productivity in the research group. It is commonly known that mental health issues affect productivity in a variety of businesses, but the unique conditions of agriculture may introduce additional elements that mitigate or obscure this relationship. Many factors may be significant, such as the utilization of seasonal labour, social support systems, and coping mechanisms. The study recommended stakeholders can improve farmers' mental health and increase agricultural productivity by putting these suggestions into practice. Resilient farming communities require a comprehensive strategy that takes into account both productivity and mental health.

Keywords: Depression, rural families, market values, crop failure, income lose.

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PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF DEPRESSION AMONG AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN KENYA

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