GENDER-BASED DIFFERENCES IN THE LEVEL OF DEPRESSION AMONG PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN KARACHI-PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Objective: To explore and compare the level of depression among male and female patients with diabetes type 2 in different hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan Methodology: This comparative study was carried out in diabetes centers and diabetes departments of different hospitals during 1 st January, 2010 to 31 st December, 2012. A purposive sample consisting of 96 adults (48 males and 48 females) patients with T2DM with age ranging from 25 to 75 years (mean=41.2±12.3 years) belonging to different socioeconomic status were selected. After taking individual’s informed consent, demographic information was taken through a preformed demographic proforma. Depression was assessed through Salma Siddiqui Depression Scale (SSDS) . Results: The findings showed that mean SSDS score was 36.63±18.63 in female T2DM patients and 28.04±19.06 in male adults with T2DM (t=-2.25,p<.05). Moreover, prevalence rate of depression among both groups (male and female) indicates that females patients with T2DM fall under the category of mild level of depression with the ratio of 31.3%, 14.6% with moderate, and 25.0% with severe level of depression; while 25% males with T2DM fall in the category of mild, 6.3% moderate, and 18.8% in severe level of depression . Conclusion: Female adults with T2DM have more severe level on the construct of depression. Key Words :  Depression (MeSH), Gender (Non-MeSH), Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (MeSH), Salma Siddiqui Depression Scale (Non-MeSH)