Life Events Associated With Major Depression in Ugandan Primary Healthcare (PHC) Patients: Issues of Cultural Specificity
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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Abstract
The study compared life events experienced by depressed patients
seen at primary healthcare (PHC) centres with those among healthy community
controls.
Method: Data was collected from 74 depressed patients and 64 unmatched controls
from village locales of patients. Interview instruments included the depression
module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and Interview
for Recent Life Events (IRLE). Associations between type of respondent and
demographic variables were examined. Statistical comparisons were done for the
two groups on other variables.
Results: Most depressed patients were single by marital status, lacked formal
employment and had less post-primary education. They had experienced more life
events; job changes, discomforting working hours, unfavourable working conditions,
and job losses; personal health problems; loss of valuables; difficulties with intimate
partners and family members’ marital problems. Independent life events were more
among depressed patients and clustered around work, health, bereavement and
marriage. Most events reported by depressed patients had high negative impact
ratings compared to controls.
Conclusion: Compared to healthy community controls, depressed patients reported
more undesirable life events. The relationship between life events and depression
implies that in PHC settings of poor countries, deploying mental health-oriented
workers to manage life events may lessen escalation of distress.
Description
Keywords
Depression, Life events, Primary healthcare, Uganda
Citation
Muhwezi, W. W., Ågren, H., Neema, S., Koma Maganda, A., & Musisi, S. (2008). Life events associated with major depression in Ugandan primary healthcare (PHC) patients: issues of cultural specificity. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54(2), 144-163. DOI: 10.1177/0020764007083878