Stigma against depression among patients and their family members in a clinic of community hospital in Beijing

ObjectiveTo study the status of stigma against depression and their influencing factors among patients and their family members in a clinic of a community hospital in Beijing. MethodsA cross-sectional study was adopted together with accidental sampling in the study to select patients and their family members who came to the clinic of the hospital from June to September,2008 for a questionnaire survey.Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used in the analyses. ResultsTotally 2 789 valid questionnaires were collected in the survey with a response rate of 90.8%.The prevalence rate of stigma against depression was 21.5%.The prevalence in the participants of different ages,marriage status,born place,living status,and the status of depression were significantly different(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analyses showed that at age of more than 55 years(odds ratio OR=1.875,95% confidence interval 95%CI:1.090-3.224),divorced or widowed(OR=2.638,95%CI:1.497-4.647),living alone(OR=1.660,95%CI:1.195-2.308),immigration(OR=0.726,95%CI:0.572-0.921),and mild depression(OR=0.680 95%CI:0.532-0.870)were factors affecting the stigma. ConclusionThe prevalence rates of stigma in the participants of the study was 21.5% and age,marriage status,born place,living status,and the status of depression were the influencing factors of stigma against depression.