Objectives: To describe the socio-demographic correlates of depressive disorder and their interactions.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Setting: Rural population in Ethiopia.
Subjects: Two hundred and twelve cases of depressive disorders.
Main outcome measure: Clinically confirmed depressive disorder.
Methods: We conducted a door-to-door survey of a predominantly rural population of close to 70,000 individuals. Cases of depressive disorder were identified by use of the SCAN (Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry) and clinical assessment.
Results: Age was associated with the disorder: those aged 35 and above had over twice the risk of those aged 24 or below: adjusted odds ratio (95% Confidence interval) = 2.24 (1.38, 3.64). On aggregate, those previously married (separated/divorced/widowed) had an almost two-fold increased risk of the disorder compared to the singles [Adj. OR (95% CI) = 1.93 (1.00, 3.70)]. As a result of effect modification by age, being married was positively associated with depressive disorders [Adj. OR (95% CI) = 3.52 (1.96, 6.32)] among the younger age group (16 to 24 years), but this association was reversed in older (25 to 34 years) age groups [Adj. OR (95% CI) = 0.50 (0.29, 0.88)].
Conclusion: The study shows that age and marital status are associated with depressive disorders independently of each other and that age modifies the association of marital status with depressive disorder.