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PREV ALENCE OF DEPRESSIVE MANIFESTATIONS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ADULT WOMEN OF THE CHILOÉ ISLAND

PREV ALENCE OF DEPRESSIVE MANIFESTATIONS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN ADULT WOMEN OF THE CHILOÉ ISLANDThe objective of this study is that of describing the instant prevalence rate of depressive symptoms in women of the Chiloé lsland, its relation with anxiet_v t_vpe and somatoform symptomatology and disturbances, and to look into its association wíth a series of social Jactors. The study carried out ís a cross-sectiona/ survey with a probabilístic type popu/ationa/ sample consisting of 153 adult women, from 18 to 64 years of age, al/ of them Fonasa beneficia ríes, wlw líve on the Chiloé !stand. The survey was carried out in the homes by previously trained teclmicians and health professionals. A precodified socíoeconomic survey was used, anda sea/e to measure depressive, anxious or somatoform disturbances. An instan! prevalence of 5.9% ( JC95o/o between 2.2% and 9.6%) was found for depressive disorders, and of 20.3% ( IC95o/o bet>t·een 13.9% and 27.2%) for subclinical manifestations. Al so, a strong association was obsen•ed between depressive symptoms and those of an anxious type (r = 0.84) as also between the depressive symptoms a/J{i those of a somatoform type ( r = 0.67). Among the social factors studied, a statistically significan! association was only found with the educational leve!: the \\'omen without clínica! manifestations had a longer period of schooling than those presenting depressive symptoms (both subclínical or disturbances). Tlzose women who were separated or widowed, those lzm•ing a larger nwnber of chi!dren, those living in urban areas aiJ(/ those who reported lzaving a lmver leve! of social participation, presentcd a higher number of depressive disorders, although this difference was not statístical!y significan!. The populational prevalence of depressive disorders is similar to that found in other regions of the counfly. The populational prevalence of depressíve symptoms of a subclínical type in women has not been previousf.v studied in our environment, but the figure obtained is similar to that of studies carried out in the Unitcd States, and the possibílity of developíng preventive programs is beíng díscussed. The close relationship Jound between depressive symptoms and those of an anxious and somatoform type has implicatíons for clínica! practice and Jor medica! care programs. The rclationship bet>veen low schoo!íng mzd deprcssíve symptoms is relevan! to !he development of social poli cíes seeking to increase the sclwoling leve[ anzong the young, as this wou/d also have a positíve and protecting effect on their mental lzealtlz. The need for advancing in the elaboration of a multídimensional model for the e;rplanation of these depressive symptoms is being discussed.