Prevalence of depression among households in three capital cities of Pakistan: need to revise the mental health policy.
BACKGROUND
Pakistan, among the other developing countries, has a higher prevalence rate of depression because of the current social adversities. There is, thus, a great need for systematic studies on prevalence of depression. The current study aims at exploring the prevalence of depression among households in three capital cities of Pakistan.


RESULTS
A sample of N = 820 was randomly selected, and a cross sectional telephone-based study was conducted for a duration of six months. It was found that there was a regional variation in prevalence rates for depression among the three cities. Lahore had the highest number of depressives (53.4%), as compared to Quetta (43.9%) and Karachi (35.7%). Middle age, female gender and secondary school level of education were significantly associated with depression among the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
The different rates of prevalence among the three cities could be attributed to local cultural influence, geographical locations and social adversities. There is a need for revision of existing health policy by the government.
Muhammad Gadit
Amin A
AA
Discipline of Psychiatry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. amin.muhammad@med.mun.ca
Mugford
Gerry
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011570:Psychiatry; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012922:Social Change; D014505:Urban Population; D000078329:Workforce