Abstract

VALENCIA-CARDENAS, Marisol; SALAZAR, Juan C.  and  CORREA-MORALES, Juan C. Evaluating changes in a welfare programme users' levels of depression . Rev. salud pública [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.4, pp.663-671. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Statistical techniques such as linear regression models are sometimes used for evaluating a community programme's impact, especially when the goal is to quantify its effects on social aspects or a particular community's overall welfare. Statistical techniques taking intra-subject correlation into account, thereby allowing social or psychological variables to be modelled, are not normally used. Such modelling strategy takes more information into account and must thus yield more accurate results than those based solely on linear regression models. Methods This paper evaluates (by means of a linear mixed model) the impact of an Institute of Sport and Recreation (Instituto de Deportes y Recreación - INDER) programme run in 2005 in Medellín on a participating population's levels of depression. Results Important variables such us intervention time and age were identified as important predictors which led to reducing depression. Conclusions Participating in INDER´s welfare programme contributed towards reducing levels of depression.

Keywords : Linear model; evaluation technique; mental health; depression.

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