[Prevalence and early determinants of common mental disorders in the 1982 birth cohort, Pelotas, Southern Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and assess its association with risk factors in a cohort of young adults.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study nested in a 1982 birth cohort study conducted in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. In 2004-5, 4,297 subjects were interviewed during home visits. Common mental disorders were assessed using the Self-Report Questionnaire. Risk factors included socioeconomic, demographic, perinatal, and environmental variables. The analysis was stratified by gender and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated by Poisson regression.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of common mental disorders was 28.0%; 32.8% and 23.5% in women and men, respectively. Men and women who were poor in 2004-5, regardless of their poor status in 1982, had nearly 1.5-fold increased risk for common mental disorders (p<0.001) when compared to those who have never been poor. Among women, being poor during childhood (p<0.001) and black/mixed skin color (p=0.002) increased the risk for mental disorders. Low birth weight and duration of breastfeeding were not associated to the risk of these disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher prevalence of common mental disorders among low-income groups and race-ethnic minorities suggests that social inequalities present at birth have a major impact on mental health, especially common mental disorders.
Anselmi
Luciana
L
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Epidemiologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil. luanselmi@terra.com.br
Barros
Fernando C
FC
Minten
Gicele C
GC
Gigante
Denise P
DP
Horta
Bernardo L
BL
Victora
Cesar G
CG
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D012737:Sex Factors; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D055815:Young Adult