Trends in the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms in Peru: a population-based study

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to estimate the trends in the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms using nationally representative surveys in Peru from 2014 to 2018.DesignA secondary analysis was conducted using five nationally representative surveys carried out consecutively in the years between 2014 and 2018.SettingThe study was conducted in Peru.ParticipantsIndividuals, men and women, aged ≥15 years who participated in the selected surveys. Sampling was probabilistic using a two-stage approach.Main outcome measuresTwo versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) that focused on the presence of depressive symptoms were administered (one in the last 2 weeks and other in the last year). Scores ≥15 were used as the cut-off point in both versions of the PHQ-9 to define the presence of depressive symptoms. Also, the treatment rate was based on the proportion of individuals who had experienced depressive symptoms in the last year and who had self-reported having received specific treatment for these symptoms. The age-standardised prevalence was estimated.ResultsA total of 161 061 participants were included. There was no evidence of a change in age-standardised prevalence rates of depressive symptoms at the 2 weeks prior to the point of data collection (2.6% in 2014 to 2.3% in 2018), or in the last year (6.3% in 2014 to 6.2% in 2018). Furthermore, no change was found in the proportion of depressive cases treated in the last year (14.6% in 2014 to 14.4% in 2018). Rural areas and individuals with low-level of wealth had lower proportion of depressive cases treated.ConclusionsNo changes in trends of rates of depressive symptoms or in the proportion of depressive cases treated were observed. This suggests the need to reduce the treatment gap considering social determinants associated with inequality in access to adequate therapy.

Characterization of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged and Older Persons With HIV in Lima, Peru

“…The PHQ-9 has been utilized in Latin American populations, including in rural areas of Mexico, suggesting that the internal consistency of the PHQ-9 was good overall and in subgroups of low literacy levels, gender, and age (50). The PHQ-9 has also been validated for use in Peru (49), and studies suggest that those of lower socioeconomic status or from rural areas had lower rates of depression (82). One study from Latin America of 412 Brazilian PWH utilized the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression screening and found that a BDI score between 13 and 19 points was associated with symptomatic HAND (mild neurocognitive disorder and HIV-associated dementia) (16).…”

Depression, Post-traumatic Stress, Anxiety, and Fear of COVID-19 in the General Population and Health-Care Workers: Prevalence, Relationship, and Explicative Model in Peru

“…Although the pre-pandemic prevalence of depression in Peru is estimated to have been stable and not increasing [36], the national prevalence has likely increased during the pandemic. The increase in the prevalence is especially true for people who are aware of having a chronic disease [37], as they are at-risk populations.…”

“…These strategies could prevent the latter individuals from evolving to a more advanced stage involving significant health problems and generating years of life lost due to disability [47]. Third, in Peru and other LMICs, the treatment gap for mental health problems such as depression is high, and it is estimated that only 1 in 10 people who require treatment receive it [36]. This gap may have increased during the pandemic, so actions to increase access to appropriate care need to be targeted.…”

Relationship between Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Depressive Symptoms in Physicians: A Cross-sectional Study based on the Employment Demand Control Model

“…Contrarily, age, gender, and monthly income did not show signi cant results. Previous studies in Peru showed that women over 75 years old and those belonging to the lowest wealth quintile are more likely to have depressive symptoms 42,43 . If wealth is to be considered alone as a factor in depressive symptoms, it could be said that health professionals would be at a lower risk of developing depressive symptoms.…”