Prevalence of depression among middle aged women in the rural area of Kerala.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Depression among women aged 40-60 years in the rural area of Kerala using Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9).

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Ambalappuzha is an area of rural background under the District of Alappuzha. The study was conducted by Preventive and Social Medicine department of Govt. T. D. Medical College, Kerala in collaboration with the department of Psychiatry with the help of Ambalappuzha health centre.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 594 women from 18 wards of Amabalappuzha North Panchayat using cluster sampling technique. Data on sociodemographic factors, health factors, and behavioral factors were collected from the women by investigator administered the semi-structured questionnaire. Patient Health Questionnaire9 (PHQ-9), was used for diagnosing Major Depression.

RESULTS: The prevalence of Major Depression among middle aged women was 26.09% using the PHQ-9 diagnostic criteria and 24.2% using a PHQ-9 cut off score ≥ 10. With increasing age, there was an increasing trend in the prevalence of Depression up to the age of 55years followed by a small decline. A higher prevalence of Depression was observed among widows (43.37%), women not in a marital relation (41.38%), a woman with a history of postpartum Depression (OR 3.471), with peri-menopausal symptoms (40.28%, OR 2.86).

CONCLUSIONS: One fourth of the women screened positive for Depression in Ambalappuzha North Panchayat (26.09%). This study highlights the need for understanding the high prevalence and myriad determinants of depression among women living in villages.