Sociodemographic Pattern of Depression in Urban Settlement of Karachi, Pakistan.
BACKGROUND
Depression is a global issue prevalent among developing countries like Pakistan as compared to developed countries. We conducted a study to assess the prevalence and identify the significant predictors of depression in an elite urban settlement in Karachi, Pakistan.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was done in the elitist residential area of Karachi; Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Four hundred and twenty three participants were included by going to their residences. Self-administered questionnaires were handed out after taking informed consent. Level of depression was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Data were entered and analysed in Predictive Analytical Software v. 18.0.


RESULTS
The mean and median total score of the scale were 5.9 ± 5.4 and 4 (7) respectively with minimum score 0 and maximum 27. In this sequence, 139 (32.86%) respondents were identified to be depressed. It was found that females were slight more depressed than males (p = 0.063). Regression Model identified only gender and marital status as significant predictors of depression. Having a female gender increased 0.658 times chance of being depressed (p = 0.047). Unmarried person had 0.296 times more likely to be depressed (p = 0.019). Boredom was considered as significant factor of depression by the participants (p< 0.0001). Odds ratio signified depression occurred 0.310 times more if one was bored.


CONCLUSIONS
Depression should be considered as a major public health issue for the city. Public awareness should be done in all parts of the city in an attempt to reduce depression especially among the female gender.
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences , Karachi, Pakistan .
Areeba
A
Altaf
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences , Karachi, Pakistan .
Maham
M
Khan
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences , Karachi, Pakistan .
Syed Raza
SR
Shah
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences , Karachi, Pakistan .
Kaneez
K
Fatima
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Medical College, The Aga Khan University , Karachi, Pakistan .
Sameer Altaf
SA
Tunio
Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences , Karachi, Pakistan .
Mehwish
M
Hussain
Faculty, Department of Medicine, Ziauddin Medical College , Karachi, Pakistan .
Muhammad Asim
MA
Khan
Pre-Medical Student, Department of Biological Sciences, The Lyceum College Karachi, Pakistan .
Moazzam Ali
MA
Shaikh
Faculty, Department of Biological Sciences, Medical College, The Aga Khan University , Karachi, Pakistan .
Mohammad Hussham
MH
Arshad
Developing country; Elite Settlement; Females; Significant predictors