Depression Screening in a population-based study: Brazilian National Health Survey 2019

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Depression is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding its prevalence and associated factors in Brazil is essential for targeted interventions.
• Previous data on depression screening in Brazil indicated a need for updated prevalence estimates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence of positive depression screening in Brazil using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
• To identify sociodemographic factors associated with depressive symptoms across different Brazilian states.
• To inform public health policies and mental health resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS), a large population-based survey.
• Employed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) with both algorithmic and cutoff (≥10) scoring methods.
• Conducted Poisson regression analyses to estimate prevalence ratios and identify independent associated factors.

Main Results:

• Overall positive screening for depression was 10.8% (cutoff ≥10) and 5.7% (algorithm).
• Significant state-level variations in prevalence were observed.
• Being female, Black, under 70, less educated, single, and living in urban areas were independently associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of positive depression screening in Brazil has shown an increase.
• Targeted mental health interventions are needed, particularly for identified high-risk groups.
• Continued national health surveys are crucial for monitoring mental health trends and guiding policy.