Background Survivors of strokes are prone to disabilities, especially in underdeveloped countries. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric condition that exacerbates symptoms and raises the danger of stroke recurrence, disability, and mortality. Nevertheless, little is documented about PSD's incidence, predictors, and consequences. This study aims to assess predictors and outcomes of post-stroke depression among patients admitted with the first stroke episode at referral hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania. Methods and analysis The study is a prospective longitudinal observational design; a consecutive sampling technique will be used to attain the estimated sample size. Adults aged >=18 years who have had their first stroke episode, within 14 days, and the stroke diagnosis will be verified through brain imaging using CT or MRI. The study will be conducted at referral hospitals in Dodoma region, Tanzania. At admission, baseline clinical parameters will be recorded, and PSD will be evaluated at one and three months after a stroke. Data will be summarised using descriptive statistics; continuous data will be reported as mean (SD) or median (IQR) while categorical data as frequencies and proportions. The PSD predictors will be determined using logistic regression analysis. The study will adhere to data-sharing guidelines and take ethical considerations into account. Ethics and dissemination The University of Dodoma's institutional Research Review and Ethical Committee has granted permission to conduct the study with reference number MA.84/261/02. The relevant authorities granted approval for the study to be carried out at DRRH and BMH.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

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The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional Research review committee of The University of Dodoma with the reference number MA.84/261/02 of 30/09/2022. Permission to conduct the study was provided by the administration of Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital (PB.22/1307/02/114) and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (AB/150/293/01/391). All study participants will be required to sign written informed consent forms or proxy consent from a close relative or custodian in case the patient is incapable, which will state clearly about the conducted study. For confidentiality, participant names will not be utilised only numbers will be used. Patients with the need for psychiatric including those with post-stroke depression will be referred for further evaluation and management will.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

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I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

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Deidentified research data will be made publicly available when the study is completed and published.