Prevalence of Depression in Rural Rwanda Based on Symptom and Functional Criteria
Date
2002-09Author
Bolton, Paul
Neugebauer, Richard
Ndogoni, Lincoln
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The authors' objective was to estimate the prevalence of major depressive disorder among Rwandans 5 years after the 1994 genocidal civil war. They interviewed a community-based random sample of adults in a rural part of Rwanda using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and a locally developed functional impairment instrument. The authors estimated current rates of major depression using an algorithm based on the DSM-IV symptom criteria (A), distress/functional impairment criteria (C), and bereavement exclusionary criteria (E). They also examined the degree to which depressive symptoms compromise social and occupational functioning. Three hundred sixty-eight adults were interviewed, of whom 15.5% met Criteria A, C, and E for current major depression. Depressive symptoms were strongly associated with functional impairment in most major roles for men and women. The authors conclude that a significant part of this population has seriously disabling depression. Work on appropriate, feasible, safe, and effective mental health interventions should be a priority for this population.
URI
http://journals.lww.com/jonmd/Abstract/2002/09000/Prevalence_of_Depression_in_Rural_Rwanda_Based_on.9.aspxhttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/38692
Citation
Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease: September 2002 - Volume 190 - Issue 9 - pp 631-637Publisher
University of Nairobi College of Humanities and Social Sciences