Depression prevalence and its associated factors among sub-urban residents in Kuala Nerus

Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder and a growing public health concern. Understanding its burden, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and identify its associated factors among suburban adult residents of Kuala Nerus, Malaysia.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 689 adults aged 18 and above who had resided in a suburban area for at least one month and were proficient in Bahasa Malaysia. Data were collected through a house-to-house survey using a pre-tested, validated questionnaire administered via Google Form. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors.

The prevalence of depression among respondents was 26.4% (95% CI: 23.1, 29.7). Multiple logistic regression analysis identified several significant factors associated with depression. Older age (adjusted OR: 0.972, 95% CI: 0.948, 0.996; p=0.020), being married (adjusted OR: 0.377, 95% CI: 0.188, 0.754; p=0.006), engaging in physical activity (adjusted OR: 0.669, 95% CI: 0.459, 0.976; p=0.037), and higher total knowledge scores (adjusted OR: 0.883, 95% CI: 0.825, 0.945; p < 0.001) were less likely to have depression. Conversely, being female (adjusted OR: 1.614, 95% CI: 1.076, 2.421; p=0.021) and having a history of depression (adjusted OR: 2.977, 95% CI: 1.122, 7.899; p=0.028) were more likely to have depression.

The study highlights the substantial burden of depression in suburban communities and underscores the need for targeted mental health interventions. Efforts to improve mental health literacy and promote protective factors, particularly among vulnerable groups such as younger individuals and females, are essential. Further research is warranted to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.