Revista Medica de Chile
Volume 139, Issue 10, 2011, Pages 1298-1304

Mental disorders among immigrants in Chile [Trastornos mentales comunes y uso de servicios de salud en población inmigrante] (Article) (Open Access)

Rojas G.* , Fritsch R. , Castro A. , Guajardo V. , Torres P. , Díaz B.
  • a Universidad de Chile, Clínica Psiquiátrica, Hospital Clínico, Av. La Paz 1003, Chile
  • b Universidad de Chile, Clínica Psiquiátrica, Hospital Clínico, Av. La Paz 1003, Chile, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Medicina, Chile
  • c Universidad de Chile, Centro de Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital Clínico, Chile
  • d Universidad de Chile, Clínica Psiquiátrica, Hospital Clínico, Av. La Paz 1003, Chile, Universidad de Chile, Chile
  • e Universidad de Chile, Chile
  • f Universidad de Chile, Clínica Psiquiátrica, Hospital Clínico, Av. La Paz 1003, Chile

Abstract

Background: Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin- American countries. Aim: To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews. Results: The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%. Conclusions: The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.

Author Keywords

Mental health Chile Peru Emigrants and inmigrants

Index Keywords

psychological aspect human middle aged statistics ethnology Mental Disorders Cross-Sectional Studies mental disease Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Article adult migration Chile Peru Health Services Accessibility health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855523378&doi=10.4067%2fS0034-98872011001000008&partnerID=40&md5=d332912ed2794f4c6643c79434a931b1
DOI: 10.4067/S0034-98872011001000008
ISSN: 00349887
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English; Spanish