Prevalence of Depression and Related Factors of The Karen People in Tak Province, Thai-Myanmar Border Region
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Abstract
Objective: There is limited information on the epidemiology and available support systems among the Karen tribal people. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the Karen population residing in the western region of Tak Province, Thailand.
Methods: The study was conducted among Karen individuals aged over 18 years, living in the five districts of Tak Province on the western side along the Myanmar border. This cross-sectional study collected data using self-rating questionnaires: 1) general information, which included the effects of war and the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) the Thai version of the PHQ-9 to assess depression. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression to identify significant factors associated with depression.
Results: A total of 578 participants had an average age of 38 years (SD = 12.03), and 66.8% of them were female. Approximately 13.5% of participants reported chronic physical illnesses, while 2.9% reported chronic mental health conditions. The prevalence of depression was 23.3%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the depression-associated factors included district (p < 0.001), sex (p = 0.034), occupation (p < 0.001), mental health conditions (p < 0.001), the impact of war (p = 0.005), and stress management (p = 0.02).
Conclusion: This study found the depression prevalence in the Karen population in western region of Tak Province to be twice as high as in northern Thailand. Six factors district, sex, occupation, pre-existing mental disorders, war experience, and coping style were associated with depressive symptoms. These factors provide valuable insights for developing future targeted interventions, such as routine screening for high-risk groups and promoting adaptive coping strategies through psychoeducation to prevent and treat depression in the Karen population.
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