Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Professor of sociology, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
2
M.A. holder in sociology, Tehran University, Tehran
Abstract
Background and Aim: In this study, in addition to the epidemiology of mental disorders in the population aged 18-64 in Saigon, and indicating the socioeconomic factors which affect the prevalence of these disorders, we also compare them with the findings of mental health status in Arak.
Theoretical Framework: Sociological theories of Anomie of Durkheim and Strain theory of Merton are the bases of our theoretical framework in this research. To determine the prevalence of mental disorders, the well-known General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and to determine the effective sociological parameters on them, questions derived from Durkheim and Merton's theories formed our second Questionnaire, the sociological one. The sample size was 384, using Cochran formula, and sampling was done using multi-stage cluster sampling.
Findings: Results showed that the overall prevalence of mental disorder in Saigon is 10.2%: in men 5.5% and in women 12.8%. Moreover, the components of immigration, job status, social status, ethnicity, structural and social pressures, family problems, and social capital, were shown to contribute to the risk of mental health and the occurrence of mental disorders. In the comparison of these two industrial cities, the state of mental disorder in the city of Arak is far worse than the city of Saigon: overall prevalence of mental disorder is 28/9% and in terms of respondant's sex, 34/55% in women and 23/31% in men. The only sociological factor that was not confirmed in Saigon, was religious adherence. All aforementioned factors were strongly confirmed in Arak, including the religious adherence.
Conclusion: As it will be discussed, the size of mental health difference between the two cities is far from any initial expectations, since Saigon was the capital of South Vietnam and experienced a terrible war with America.
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