Ahmad Ali Noorbala
1*, Seyed Abbas Bagheri Yazdi
2, Soghrat Faghihzadeh
3, Koorosh Kamali
4, Elham Faghihzadeh
5, Ahmad Hajebi
6, Shahin Akhondzadeh
7, Gholam Hossein Noroozinejad
8, Reza DavasazTehrani
91 Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran,
3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran,
4 Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran,
5 Department of Biostatistics, Paramedical School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
6 Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychiatric Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
7 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
8 Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran,
9 Mental Health Expertise of Khouzestan Provincial Health Center, Khouzestan University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental
health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Khouzestan in 2015.
Methods: The statistical population of this
cross-sectional field survey consisted of residents of urban and rural areas of
Khouzestan in Iran. An estimated sample size of 1200 people was chosen using
systematic random cluster sampling. The access was provided by the contribution
of Geographical Post Office of Ahvaz, Imam khomeini Bandar, and Shooshtar
cities. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used as the screening tool
for mental disorders. Data
analysis in the current study was carried out using the SPSS-18 software.
Results: Using GHQ traditional scoring
method, 21.8% of the subjects
were shown to be at risk of mental disorders (26.2% of females and 23% of
males). Urban areas (27.1%) were more at risk of mental disorders compared with
rural residents (16.8%). The prevalence of suspected cases of mental disorders
in urban areas (25.4%) was higher than rural areas (13.4 %). Anxiety and
somatization symptoms were more frequent than depression and social dysfunction
among respondents. The obtained data revealed that the prevalence of mental
disorders increased with age. Such disorders were more common in females, age
group of 65 and above, people living in rural areas, divorced and widowed,
illiterate, housewives and unemployed individuals compared with the other
groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that about a
fourth of the people in the province were suspected to have mental disorders
and the prevalence of these disorders has increased from 21.3% in 1999 to 21.8%
in 2015. Therefore, it is mandatory for the provincial public health
authorities to take the needed steps to ensure that necessary requirements
encompassing prevention and promotion of mental health are implemented.