[Prevalence of common mental disorders among elderly residents county in northeast of Brazil].

OBJECTIVE Describing the prevalence of commonly occurring mental disorders, according to sociodemographic characteristics and the presence of chronic disease, amongst elderly residents living in urban areas of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study involved a cross-sectional sample consisting of 562 individuals living in the city of Feira de Santana (69.6 % female, 30.4 % male: 68.93±7.05 years old mean age). A questionnaire asking for pertinent sociodemographic information was used, such as diseases, screening for common mental disorders (CMD) using the self-reporting questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for statistical analysis; the prevalence ratio, confidence interval (95 %) and p≤0.0 5 significance level were calculated. RESULTS Overall CMD prevalence was 32.1 %. Data analysis revealed that sociodemographic characteristics (age and income) were associated with higher CMD prevalence. CONCLUSION This study estimated CMD prevalence in elderly people residing in a municipality in north-eastern Brazil and identified the characteristics associated with CMD which could interfere with the population's mental health. The city's mental healthcare policy should be coordinated with minimum income policy for the elderly population.