Citation

Sharif H, Jan SS, Sharif S, Seemi T, Naeem H, Jawed Z. Front. Public Health 2023; 11: e1135964.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Frontiers Editorial Office)

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2023.1135964

PMID

36908405

PMCID

PMC9997841

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicidal thoughts and depression are associated with patients with diabetes, especially patients with low socioeconomic backgrounds and prolonged illness.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to estimate suicidal thoughts and depression among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the slums of Karachi.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted across 38 locations in the slums of Karachi to understand depression, suicidal thoughts, and other supporting factors of depression associated with T2D. The three-item Oslo Social Support Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale, and the Ask Suicide Screening Questions were used to screen the patients.

RESULTS: A total of 504 study participants were interviewed, with a response rate of 98%. The prevalence of depression among patients with diabetes was 30.83%, and suicidal ideation was 20.39%. In the final multivariate analysis, being socioeconomically poor, physically disabled, and having poor social support were independent predictors of depression.

CONCLUSION: Diabetes, low socioeconomic level, a lack of social support, and physical disability were all linked to depression. Therefore, trained health providers should conduct an early depression-focused routine screening for patients with diabetes.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Cross-Sectional Studies; depression; suicidal ideation; *Suicidal Ideation; Pakistan/epidemiology; *Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; chronic illness; Depression/epidemiology; long duration of illness; low socio-economic background; Poverty Areas; slums population; type 2 diabetes