Abstract
BackgroundMigration is a major life event, which may also be a risk factor for depression. However, little is known regarding the relationship between these phenomena in low and middle income settings. This study explores the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms among rural-to-urban migrants compared to permanent rural and to urban residents in India.MethodsWe assessed 884 subjects; urban non-migrants (n = 159), urban migrants (n = 461) and rural non-migrants (n = 264) in Hyderabad, India, in 2009–2010. The frequency and severity of depressive symptoms was assessed with the validated Telugu version of the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between the presence of depressive symptoms and migration status while adjusting for gender, age and several sociodemographic and health-related parameters using Stata v.12.ResultsThe prevalence of mild to severe depressive symptoms was higher in women (11.3, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 8.3–14.3 %) compared to men (5.8 %, 95 % CI 3.7–7.9 %). Rural residents reported the highest prevalence of mild to severe depressive symptoms (women: 16.7 %, 95 % CI 9.8–23.5 %; men: 8.0 %, 95 % CI 3.7–12.3 %). Among women, the lowest prevalence was reported by migrants (8.2 %, 95 % CI 4.6–11.9 %). Among men, prevalence was similar in migrants (5.0 %, 95 % CI 2.2–7.7 %) and urban residents (3.9 %, 95 % CI 0–8.3 %). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed no evidence for increased prevalence of mild to severe depressive symptoms among migrants compared to either rural or urban residents.ConclusionsThere was no evidence for an increased prevalence of mild to severe depressive symptoms among rural-urban migrants compared to rural or urban residents.
Highlights
Migration is a major life event, which may be a risk factor for depression
Those who migrate to urban settings may experience improvements in socioeconomic status (SES), living conditions and access to healthcare [5, 6], and lower levels of depression compared to people who Albers et al BMC Psychology (2016) 4:47 remain in rural areas
Migrants were less educated than urban residents and less likely to be employed compared to either urban or rural residents
Summary
Migration is a major life event, which may be a risk factor for depression. little is known regarding the relationship between these phenomena in low and middle income settings. Migration is a major life event, which is associated with increased exposure to cardiovascular risk factors, and may be a risk factor for depression [2, 3]. Despite the increasing importance of rural-to-urban migration in low and middle income countries (LMIC), little. Those who migrate to urban settings may experience improvements in socioeconomic status (SES), living conditions and access to healthcare [5, 6], and lower levels of depression compared to people who Albers et al BMC Psychology (2016) 4:47 remain in rural areas. Urban non-migrants may be expected to have the lowest prevalence of depression as they experience the beneficial aspects of the urban environment, without the potential stressor of migration
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