Factors associated with depression in leprosy patients seen in primary care

Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease and Brazil ranks second in the prevalence of case numbers, with 12.2 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. To screen depression in leprosy patients in São José de Ribamar city, Maranhão State. Quantitative cross-sectional study with application of two forms, the first comprising sociodemographic and clinical variables and the second consisting of the Beck Depression Inventory, applied from January to June 2019. Logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors for depression. Two-hundred and one (201) patients were evaluated, of which mostly were male (55.22%); 25.37% were in the age group 46-60 years; 49.75% were married; 42.29% had more than 8 years of schooling; 57.21% received 1 to 3 minimum wages; and 41.79% live with 4 to 7 people. Moreover, the multibacillary form was the most frequent form (70.65%) and leprosy reaction was present in 80.10% of patients; 42.29% of patients do not know whether they are diabetic or not and 42.28% do not know whether they are hypertensive or not; 79.60% do not smoke; and 87.06% do not practice physical activity. The variable household members with 1 to 3 people was associated with the minimum degree of depression, with p≤0.010. In contrast, the variables male gender, age group 46-60 years, brown color, and not knowing whether they are hypertensive or not (p≤0.010); 5 to 8 years of schooling, income of 1 to 3 minimum wages, and nonsmoking (p=0.040); multibacillary clinical form (p=0.010); and leprosy reaction (p=0.030) were associated with symptoms of severe depression. Leprosy patients are prone to depression, possibly due to their characteristic social stigma.