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Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders in an adult African rural community in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 1998

A. BHAGWANJEE ,
A. PAREKH ,
Z. PARUK ,
I. PETERSEN  and
H. SUBEDAR
A. BHAGWANJEE
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville and Department of Nursing, University of Natal, South Africa
A. PAREKH
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville and Department of Nursing, University of Natal, South Africa
Z. PARUK
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville and Department of Nursing, University of Natal, South Africa
I. PETERSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville and Department of Nursing, University of Natal, South Africa
H. SUBEDAR
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Durban-Westville and Department of Nursing, University of Natal, South Africa
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Abstract

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Background. This paper reports on a two-stage community-based epidemiological study of selected minor psychiatric disorders conducted on an adult African population in South Africa.

Methods. Using a modified random cluster sampling method, 354 adults were identified as the first-stage sample, with the SRQ-20 being used as a first-stage screen. Clinical interviews based on DSM-IV checklists for generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and dysthymia were administered as the second-stage criterion to 81 subjects from the sample.

Results. The weighted prevalence for generalised anxiety and depressive disorders was 23·9% (95% CI 15·1%–32·7%), comprising: generalized anxiety 3·7%, major depression 4·8%, dysthymia 7·3%, and major depression and dysthymia 8·2%. Statistically significant associations were found between caseness and age, marital status, employment, income and educational level.

Conclusions. The results are discussed in relation to comparative local and international data as well as in the context of the current restructuring of the mental-health care system in South Africa from tertiary curative care to integrated primary mental-health care.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 28 , Issue 5 , September 1998 , pp. 1137 - 1147
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press