TRANSTORNOS MENTAIS COMUNS EM MULHERES DE CIDADES RURAIS: PREVALÊNCIA E VARIÁVEIS CORRELATAS

Current analysis deals with the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in females living in rural towns in the state of Paraiba, Brazil, and the association of CMDs with socio-economic factors, experience in domestic violence and mental health care. Six hundred and eight females, aged between 18 and 83 years (43 ± 14.640) participated. The sociodemographic questionnaire and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 were used. Data were assessed by descriptive and bivariate statistical analysis. CMD prevalence reached 31.6%, with highest rates in females over 50 years old, divorced, low schooling and low income. Predictor variables for CMDs were: victim of domestic violence, experience of stressing conditions, and inter-relation between variables comprised people over 50 years old, family antecedents of psychic sufferings and income between one or two minimum wages. Significant sociocultural factors with regard to mental health linked to gender predict CMD in the population.