Prevalence of Depression among Households in Three Capital Cities of Pakistan: Need to Revise the Mental Health Policy
Prevalence of Depression among Households in Three Capital Cities of Pakistan: Need to Revise the Mental Health Policy
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0000209
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发表时间：
2007-02-14
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Mugford, Gerry
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Gadit, Amin A. Muhammad;Mugford, Gerry
背景由于目前的社会逆境，巴基斯坦与其他发展中国家一样，抑郁症的发病率较高。因此，非常需要对抑郁症的患病率进行系统的研究。目前的研究旨在探讨巴基斯坦三个首都城市家庭中抑郁症的患病率。方法和主要调查结果。随机选择了N=820的样本，并进行了为期6个月的基于电话的横断面研究。结果发现，三个城市的抑郁症患病率存在区域差异。与奎达（43.9%）和卡拉奇（35.7%）相比，拉合尔的抑郁症患者人数最多（53.4%）。中年、女性和中学教育程度与研究组的抑郁症显著相关。结论/意义。三个城市的不同流行率可能与当地文化影响、地理位置和社会逆境有关。政府有必要修订现行的卫生政策。
Background. Pakistan, among the other developing countries, has a higher prevalence rate of depression because of the current social adversities. There is, thus, a great need for systematic studies on prevalence of depression. The current study aims at exploring the prevalence of depression among households in three capital cities of Pakistan. Methodology and Principal Findings. A sample of N=820 was randomly selected, and a cross sectional telephone-based study was conducted for a duration of six months. It was found that there was a regional variation in prevalence rates for depression among the three cities. Lahore had the highest number of depressives (53.4%), as compared to Quetta (43.9%) and Karachi (35.7%). Middle age, female gender and secondary school level of education were significantly associated with depression among the study group. Conclusions/Significance. The different rates of prevalence among the three cities could be attributed to local cultural influence, geographical locations and social adversities. There is a need for revision of existing health policy by the government.