STRESS RELATED SYMPTOMS AND RELEVANT RISK FACTORS AMONG PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ATTENDEES, DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY, DUBAI, UAE

Background: People differ dramatically in the type of events they interpret as stressful and the way in which they respond to such stress. People with a personal or family history of mental illness may be affected more by stress. Certain occupations, such as law enforcement or air traffic control, are more stressful than others.

Objectives: To study the prevalence and determinants of stress among attendees of PHC facilities at Dubai Health authority, Dubai, UAE.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study has been carried out among randomly selected sample of 306 outpatients, both males (76) and females (222), and from adolescents, adults and elderly age groups. They are clients attending primary health care facilities at Dubai health authority in Dubai for the year 2014 for several purposes. Sample size was estimated using Epi–info software and selected by multistage stratified random technique with proportional allocation from different primary health care centers both in Diera and Bur Dubai sides. Interview administered questionnaire has been used for data collection (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales “DASS 21”). Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.

Results: The study showed that the prevalence of mild stress was 11.4% and moderate stress was 13.7%, while severe stress was 11.8%. The highest stress level was among adolescents which was 52.0% followed by adult 38.0% and the difference was significant P value >0.14. In relation to gender risk factor, it was appeared that 43.8% of total stress were among females compared to 38.2% among males and the difference was not significant P >o.389. The study revealed that stress among Emirati population was 45.7% while it was 29% among expatiate population, the difference was statistically significant p <0.014. In relation to stress and marital status, the study showed that about 87.5% of the divorced group have stressed followed by widowed group 66.7%, and the difference was statistically significant P < 0.05. The study reflected that stress was 50% among high school education level and 39.3% among university level group and showed no significant difference among groups in concern with education risk factor P>0.315. The study reflected higher rates of stress among non workers about 44.6% and retired about 45.5% compared to other occupational groups like professionals (36.4%) and other groups, and the difference was not statistically significant P > 0.976. Regarding the distribution of stress in relation to outcome, the study showed that the stress was high among very high income group more than 20000 AED (52.6%) and very low income group less that 5000 AED about (36.8%) and the difference was statistically significant among different income groups P < 0.04.

Conclusion: Frequency rates of stress are significantly high which reflected multi directional effect. Some socio-demographic factors were shown to be playing significant role such as gender and nationality. It is recommended that stress intervention program targeting patients with specific socio-demographic factors to be developed to prevent the multi directional negative impacts and improve quality of life and over all life expectancies.