Sociodemographic Pattern of Depression in Urban Settlement of Karachi, Pakistan
Published: June 1, 2015 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/.6093
Areeba Altaf, Maham Khan, Syed Raza Shah, Kaneez Fatima, Sameer Altaf Tunio, Mehwish Hussain, Muhammad Asim Khan, Moazzam Ali Shaikh, Mohammad Hussham Arshad
1. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
2. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
3. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
4. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
5. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Medical College, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
6. Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
7. Faculty, Department of Medicine, Ziauddin Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Correspondence
Mr. Syed Raza Shah,
Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan,
Email:syedraza91shah@live.com
Introduction: Depression is a global issue prevalent among developing countries like Pakistan as compared to developed countries. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence and identify the significant predictors of depression in an elite urban settlement in Karachi, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in the elitist residential area of Karachi; Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Four hundred and twenty three participants were included by going to their residences. Self-administered questionnaires were handed out after taking informed consent. Level of depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Data were entered and analysed in Predictive Analytical Software v. 18.0.
Results: The mean and median total score of the scale were 5.9 ± 5.4 and 4 (7) respectively with minimum score 0 and maximum 27. In this sequence, 139 (32.86%) respondents were identified to be depressed. It was found that females were slight more depressed than males (p = 0.063). Regression Model identified only gender and marital status as significant predictors of depression. Having a female gender increased 0.658 times chance of being depressed (p = 0.047). Unmarried person had 0.296 times more likely to be depressed (p = 0.019). Boredom was considered as significant factor of depression by the participants (p< 0.0001). Odds ratio signified depression occurred 0.310 times more if one was bored.
Discussion: Depression should be considered as a major public health issue for the city. Public awareness should be done in all parts of the city in an attempt to reduce depression especially among the female gender.
[
FULL TEXT ] | [ PDF]