The study examined the influence of socio-economic factors (marital status, occupation and religious affiliation) on the prevalence of depression. It also investigated patients' perception and knowledge of the illness and identified the coping mechanisms adopted by adult patients with depression at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). This was with a view to exploring the socio-cultural context of depressive disorders in a cultural context.Data were obtained from primary and secondary sources.