Prevalence of depression among adults in Oyo State, Nigeria: a comparative study of rural and urban communities.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess the current prevalence of depression in Oyo State, Nigeria and the rural-urban variation in prevalence.


METHODS
This is a two-phase community-based cross-sectional study. The urban areas selected for the study are the Ibadan North-West and Egbeda local government areas. The rural area selected was the Saki-East local government area.


METHODS
A total of 1105 participants were recruited into the study. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample of the participants from the communities in Oyo State. The study was conducted using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, and the general health questionnaire (GHQ 12) as a screening tool. The second phase of the interview was conducted only for those participants with a score of more than 3 using the GHQ 12. These participants were then clinically examined using the Structured Clinical Interview DSM IV for assessment of clinical depression.


METHODS
Prevalence of depression.


RESULTS
A total of 721 (65.2%) were from urban communities, while 384 (34.8%) were from the rural community. The overall prevalence of depression was found to be 5.2%. Depression was more prevalent among women than men (5.7% vs 4.8%, chi(2) = 0.36 P = 0.55), and among adolescents (9.6%, P = 0.04). Furthermore, depression was more common in the rural areas than in the urban areas (7.3% vs 4.2%, chi(2) = 4.94 P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Depression is more common in rural than urban areas in the Nigerian population. Mental health education for adolescents and secondary school students should be encouraged in rural communities.
Amoran
Olorunfemi
O
Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. drfamoran@yahoo.com
Lawoyin
Taiwo
T
Lasebikan
Victor
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012572:School Health Services; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*