title: Characterization of depression among patients at urban primary healthcare centers in Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and predictors of depression among Oman adult population attending primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) in Muscat Governorate in 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2005 participants attending 27 different PHCs in Muscat Governorate during 2011. A Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), together with a socio-demographic and relevant clinical data questionnaire was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2005 participants, 61.8% were women and 42.1% were of 25-50 age group. Of the total, 44.4% were employed, of whom 51% were government employees. The prevalence of depression among them was 8.1%. The adjusted odds ratios generated by logistic regression models indicated that depression was significantly associated with age greater than 50 years old (OR = 2.23; 95% CI 1.07, 4.22; P = 0.04), female (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.12, 3.82; P = 0.03), married (OR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.11, 3.30; P = 0.02), graduated or attended higher education (OR = 1.40; 95% CI 1.03, 2.66; P = 0.04), working in the private sector if employed (OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.08, 2.75; P = 0.02), and having chronic illness such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, asthma, heart, thyroid, and renal diseases (OR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.03, 3.51; P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of depression appears to be in the lower range compared to rate reported from elsewhere. Some socio-cultural factors that may contribute to the present findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman adawi@squ.edu.om samir.al-adawi@fulbrightmail.org.
authors.forename: Asthma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Salmani
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Tahara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Juma
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Arwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Noobi
authors.affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Farsi
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Najlaa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Khalsa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Mamari
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Huda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Al-Lawati
authors.affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman and Wright State University, Ohio.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Adawi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Oman; Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); chronic disease; depression; primary health care