Debt and depression among the Dibao population in northwestern China

Abstract

Background: With the rapid development of economy, depression disorder is not only a public health issue but also asocioeconomic problem and attracting more and more attention in China. Aims: The target of this study is to examine the prevalence of depression and the related risk factors in the Dibaopopulation in northwestern China. Method: A cross-sectional analysis in a random sample survey conducted in three northwestern Chinese cities in 2007.The data from 4459 respondents with completed Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scales wereevaluated to explore the key risk factors for depression. Using depression as a binary variable according to the cutoffof the CES-D score and then as a continuous variable, multiple logistic and line regression analysis were performed tocompare the odds ratio and the weight of different risk factors for depression. Results: The prevalence of depression in non-Dibao population was 34.7% but that in the Dibao population was 50.0%(p