Insight into depression: a cross sectional study from urban slums in Mumbai

Abstract

Background: At any given time, about 10% of the adult population globally and about one in three adults attending a primary health centre suffers from a mental disorder. Depression and anxiety (common mental disorders) and substance abuse disorders are the most frequent of all mental disorders. It is no surprise that mental disorders figure prominently in the list of leading global causes of disability. Objective: This intervention targets to know the prevalence, correlates and treatment gap for depression in urban slums in Mumbai. Methods: This study is the community-based cross sectional study conducted from July 2009 to July 2010.This study was conducted in an urban slum in Mumbai. Community Epidemiological Scale –D was used to screen depression Sample size was calculated as 254. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study subjects. Results: The prevalence of depression in this study among urban slum population came out to be 54.3%. Lower socioeconomic status, lower educational qualification, presence of somatic complaints and poor marital status, substance use stood out as correlates of depression. Only 8% respondents were aware that depression is treatable and 100% treatment gap for counseling services or medication was found in the present investigation. Conclusion: Mental health needs to be prioritized in public health system at all levels of prevention. More inclusive and percolating economy policies need to be emphasized to reduce poverty.

Keywords

• urban slum
• depression
• correlates
• health seeking behavior