Social inequalities in the prevalence of common mental disorders in adults: a population-based study in Southern Brazil.

Objective:: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in adults in a capital city in Southern Brazil.

Methods:: Population-based survey conducted on 1,720 adults aged 20 - 59 years from Florianópolis, Southern Brazil. The CMD were investigated through the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). The independent variables were demographic, socioeconomic, health-related behaviors, health conditions and use of health services. Multivariable Poisson regression was used for the estimation of prevalence ratios (PR) and 95%CI.

Results:: The prevalence of CMD was 14.7%. Adjusted analyses showed that the prevalence was higher among women, those self-reported as blacks, with lower educational level, poor, divorced/separated/widowed, inactive in leisure time, heavy smokers, people with chronic diseases, those who reported negative health self-rating, those who had medical appointments and who were hospitalized before the interview.

Conclusion:: CMD is relatively high among population subgroups most vulnerable to social inequalities and with worse conditions related to health indicators.