Studies so far conducted in Ethiopia, lack information on prevalence of specific mental disorders inrnrural communities. The lifetime and a one month prevalence of specific ICD-10 mental disorders andrnassociations with socio-demographic factors were determined using the translated Amharic version ofrnthe Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) in a rural population. A total of 501rncommunity subjects which were selected from Meskan and Mareko district by stratified randomrnsampling were interviewed by non-clinician interviewers. The aggregate lifetime prevalence rate ofrnpsychiatric morbidity was 31.8%, and 26.7% when substance dependence was not included. The mostrnfrequent specific diagnoses were: dissociative disorders (6.3%), mood disorders (6.2%), somatoformrndisorders (5.9%), and anxiety disorders (5.7%). After adjustment in a multi-center logistic model,rnfemale sex were shown to have statistically significant association with mood disorders (OR= 3.84,rn95% CI: 1.90, 7.73), and somatoform disorders (OR= 2.30, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.60). Severe cognitive andrnmood disorders were significantly associated with being elderly: 60 years of age or more (OR= 7.71,rn95% CI: 1.58, 7.53; and OR= 3.68, 95% CI= 1.36, 9.95; respectively). Muslims and those who werernearning low income were associated with khat dependence (OR= 3.5, 95% CI: 1.02, 11.98; and OR=rn0.32, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.96; respectively). It is concluded that psychiatric morbidity is a major publicrnhealth problem in the rural community. Strengthening mental health care services in the ruralrncommunity and similar studies using CIDI is recommended