RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Depression is an important mental health problem. The Chilean Ministry of Health has considered depression in women as one of the health priorities for the country. AIM: To assess the prevalence of depressive and somatic symptoms and their risk factors in climacteric women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A special questionnaire was applied to 171 women (45 to 55 years of age), coming from a community organization (PRODEMU) and a private health institution (ISAPRE Banmedica). Risk factors for depression were determined using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 43 per cent. Women with primary education had an odds ratio for depression of 2.49, compared with women with high school or university education. Other risk factor for depression was the lack of a renumerated job (Odds ratio 1.9). The risk factors for somatic symptoms were the presence of depressive symptoms (OR 3.2), lack of secondary or university education (OR 2.4), low income (OR 1.9) and having a current partner (OR 3.6). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in the studied population of climacteric women. Lack of education and of a renumerated job are important risk factors for the presence of such symptoms. Women with a low level of education and with depressive symptoms have also a high risk of presenting somatic symptoms.