Depression is a rapidly gro\'" problem. It was supposed that rural inhabitants are immune against if and so it is of value to study the epidemi0ogical features of depressioe ill a rural area.
This cross-sectional sh011 term epidemiological study was carriedOUl in a rural area in kalyoubia pemorate during winter months (January & February) of the year 2000, to avoid the flactuation of occurrence of depression that takes place during autumn & spring. Data were collected with the help of five ,,"Olunteers. They were trained to use the psychometric Beck Depression inventory. The target ofthis study were 900 subjects. They were chosen by systematic random method of samp ling. l3 D I yei I d depression rate among rural inhabitant to be 14.1 %. Females show statistically significant higher frequency of occurrence of depression than males. Preadolescents and adolescents as well as young adults show the highest percentage to have depression (27.6 %, 34.5%) respectively. The secondary educated subjects are the main victims of depression (58BYo). Unemployment is estimated to be a risk factor for depression in a percentage of 43.1 % ofca,ses. Consangui..nity is met y;ith in 48.3% of cases. Family history ofdepression is present in 29.3% of cases, past history of stress is present in 62% ofdiagnosed cases. Seventy two percent of diagnosed cases live in nqclear families. The majority of cases (81.03%) don't seek medical treatment at alL So, it is recommended to design a programe to manage the threat of depression to our country. |
