Factores sociodemográficos asociados con los síntomas depresivos en una muestra de mujeres recluidas en dos prisiones de México / Sociodemographic factors associated with symptoms of depression in a sample of women held at two prisons in Mexico

OBJETIVOS: Determinar la frecuencia de los síntomas depresivos en una muestra de mujeres recluidas en dos prisiones mexicanas e identificar los factores sociodemográficos asociados con estos síntomas. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio exploratorio y descriptivo en mujeres de 18 a 50 años de dos prisiones del estado de Veracruz, México: los penales Pacho Viejo (PV) y Fortaleza San Carlos (FSC). Se aplicó la escala de depresión de Hamilton y se relacionó su puntaje con las características sociodemográficas de las participantes (edad, estado marital, número de hijos, actividad laboral dentro del penal y número y frecuencia de visitas que recibía) y su situación jurídica, tipo de delito cometido y tiempo de sentencia. Se utilizaron las pruebas de la t de Student, de la χ2 y la post hoc de Student-Newman-Keuls, según las características de las variables. RESULTADOS: Todas las mujeres estudiadas en ambos penales presentaron síntomas depresivos. Las mujeres de PV tuvieron un puntaje menor de síntomas depresivos que las de FSC (20,8 + 0,8 frente a 25,2 + 0,9; P < 0,001). Se encontró un mayor puntaje de depresión en las mujeres con hijos que en las que no tenían hijos (25,3 + 0,9 frente a 21,8 + 1,3; P < 0,05); el grupo de mujeres que recibía visitas semanalmente presentó un puntaje (15,0 + 1,3) significativamente menor que los grupos restantes (F[4, 46] = 30,7; P < 0,0001). No se encontraron diferencias significativas asociadas con el estatus marital, la situación laboral, la edad, el tipo de delito y el tiempo de sentencia. CONCLUSIÓN: Se encontró una elevada frecuencia de síntomas depresivos en la muestra estudiada; la mayor intensidad se relacionó con tener hijos y recibir visitas con poca frecuencia. Los programas de readaptación social deben fomentar el contacto permanente de estas mujeres con sus hijos, familiares y amigos.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among a sample of women held in two Mexican prisons and to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with these symptoms. METHODS: An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted of women 18-50 years of age in two prisons in the state of Veracruz, Mexico: the Pacho Viejo (PV) facility and Fortaleza San Carlos (FSC) facility. The Hamilton scale for depressive illness was applied and relationships were found between the participants' scores and their sociodemographic traits (age, marital status, number of children, jail work assignment, and number/frequency of visitors), legal status, type of crime committed, and length of sentence. The analysis employed Student's T test, Chi-squared test, and Student-Newman-Keuls' post hoc test, depending on the variable. RESULTS: All of the women studied at both facilities presented with symptoms of depression. Women at the PV facility had a lower score for depressive symptoms than those at FSC (20.8 + 0.8 versus 25.2 + 0.9; P < 0.001). A higher score was found among women with children than among those without children (25.3 + 0.9 versus 21.8 + 1.3; P < 0.05); the group of women receiving weekly visits scored (15.0 + 1.3) significantly lower than the other groups (F[4.46] = 30.7; P < 0.0001). No significant differences were found to be related to marital status, work assignment, age, type of crime, or the length of sentence. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of depression were prevalent among the study sample, and were most powerfully related to having children and infrequent visits. Social adaptation programs should encourage continuous contact between women and their children, family, and friends.

[Sociodemographic factors associated with symptoms of depression in a sample women held at two prisons in Mexico]. / Factores sociodemográficos asociados con los síntomas depresivos en una muestra de mujeres recluidas en dos prisiones de México.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among a sample of women held in two Mexican prisons and to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with these symptoms. METHODS: An exploratory, descriptive study was conducted of women 18-50 years of age in two prisons in the state of Veracruz, Mexico: the Pacho Viejo (PV) facility and Fortaleza San Carlos (FSC) facility. The Hamilton scale for depressive illness was applied and relationships were found between the participants' scores and their sociodemographic traits (age, marital status, number of children, jail work assignment, and number/frequency of visitors), legal status, type of crime committed, and length of sentence. The analysis employed Student's T test, Chi-squared test, and Student-Newman-Keuls' post hoc test, depending on the variable. RESULTS: All of the women studied at both facilities presented with symptoms of depression. Women at the PV facility had a lower score for depressive symptoms than those at FSC (20.8 +/- 0.8 versus 25.2 +/- 0.9; P <0.001). A higher score was found among women with children than among those without children (25.3 +/- 0.9 versus 21.8 +/- 1.3; P < 0.05); the group of women receiving weekly visits scored (15.0 +/- 1.3) significantly lower than the other groups (F[4.46] = 30.7; P < 0.0001). No significant differences were found to be related to marital status, work assignment, age, type of crime, or the length of sentence. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of depression were prevalent among the study sample, and were most powerfully related to having children and infrequent visits. Social adaptation programs should encourage continuous contact between women and their children, family, and friends.