Abstract
ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders among adults seeking care in primary healthcare centers in Cordoba city, Argentina.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of a random sample of adults 18–69 years of age seeking care for general health problems in public (i.e., government-funded) primary healthcare centers in Cordoba city, Argentina in 2010–2011. Mood and anxiety disorders were assessed in the participants’ lifetime, and in the last 12 months and 30 days using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0, and defined following the International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision.ResultsOverall, 1,067 participants were included in the current analysis [mean age 35.6 (SD 13.2) years, 83.7% female]. The lifetime, 12-month and 30-day prevalence of any mood or anxiety disorder was 40.4% [95% confidence interval (95%CI) 37.4–43.4%], 20.1% (17.8–22.7%) and 7.8% (6.2–9.6%), respectively. The prevalence of anxiety disorders was higher compared to mood disorders when assessed in the participants’ lifetime [29.7% (95%CI 27.0–32.5%) versus 19.3% (17.0–21.8%)], and in the last 12 months [14.9% (12.8–17.2%) versus 8.7% (7.1–10.6%)] and 30 days [5.8% (4.5–7.4%) versus 2.3% (1.5–3.4%)]. Age and marital status-adjusted odds ratios for any mood or anxiety disorder in the participants’ lifetime and in the last 12 months and 30 days comparing women versus men were 1.19 (95%CI 0.85–1.67), 1.70 (1.07–2.69), and 2.26 (1.02–5.00), respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders is high among adults seeking care in primary healthcare centers in Cordoba city, particularly among women. Integration of primary and mental health services is warranted.
Highlights
Mental health is a fundamental and inseparable component of health and is directly related to the individual, family, and community well-being [1,2,3]
Results from the current study are consistent with the high prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders among people seeking care in primary healthcare services in the two cities from Latin America included in the analysis by Goldberg and Lecrubier and suggest that the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders may be higher in Latin America as compared with other regions
The prevalence of anxiety disorders was higher compared to mood disorders
Summary
Mental health is a fundamental and inseparable component of health and is directly related to the individual, family, and community well-being [1,2,3]. By maximizing the overall level of health in the community, the primary health care strategy can contribute to promote the economic and social development of low- and middle-income countries [7, 8]. Prior studies suggest that the prevalence of mental disorders may be high among people seeking care for general health problems in the first level of care (i.e., primary healthcare centers) [12,13,14,15]. Data on the prevalence of mental disorders in adults seeking care in primary healthcare centers were used to support the inclusion of mental health services into the primary health care strategy in Chile, a country in which this integration was successfully accomplished [16,17,18,19]
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