Depression And Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Beck Depression Inventory

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Mental Health Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Mental health disorders, particularly depression, represent a significant global public health challenge.
• Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, necessitating focused research in diverse settings.
• Understanding depression prevalence in rural areas is crucial for targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of depression among individuals attending a rural health facility in Lahore.
• To identify sociodemographic and clinical risk factors associated with depression in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rural Health Centre Kahna Nau, Lahore.
• The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression levels in 384 participants.
• Chi-square tests were employed to identify significant associations between depression and various factors (p≤0.05).

Main Results:

• The study identified a depression prevalence of 23% (84 out of 384 participants).
• Significant associations were found between depression and age, income, marital status, educational status, family structure, history of hospitalization, smoking status, and co-morbidity.
• The majority of respondents were male (69.5%) and aged 25-44 years (53%).

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of patients presenting at the rural health facility experienced depression.
• Several factors including age, income, marital status, education, family structure, co-morbidity, and smoking status are significantly linked to depression.
• These findings highlight the need for mental health screening and support in rural primary care settings.