Social inequality and common mental disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the association between the socioeconomic characteristics of individuals and common mental disorders.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of the urban population, 14 years and older, in Campinas (Brazil) (n=515) was conducted using a multipurpose instrument that included the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) to assess common mental disorders in the previous 3 months. Weighted prevalence of common mental disorders was calculated for each independent variable. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence was 17% (95% CI 12.8-22.3), 8.9% in males and 24.4% in females. An inverse association was found between common mental disorders and the socioeconomic characteristics (schooling and employment) even after controlling for all the other variables. Higher common mental disorders prevalence was observed in those with less than 5 years of schooling (PR=5.5) and unemployed or underemployed (PR=2.0).


CONCLUSIONS
As in other studies, common mental disorders were unevenly distributed; it was significantly more frequent in socially disadvantaged individuals. Specific actions to reduce inequalities in the general and mental health system should be studied.
Marín-León
Letícia
L
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.
Oliveira
Helenice Bosco de
HB
Barros
Marilisa Berti de Azevedo
MB
Dalgalarrondo
Paulo
P
Botega
Neury José
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012935:Social Justice; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population