A study on the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the elderly in Kancheepuram district, South India.
Journal Title: National Journal of Research in Community Medicine - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 4
Abstract
Background: Mental health is as important as physical health. The elderly are the most vulnerable because the proportion of the elderlypersons is increasing, most of the people lives in rural areas and depression among the elderly impairs the functioning in daily life.As people age, they experience multiple chronic health problems. Health problems when compounded with depression, worsens the clinical outcome still further. Objectives:To assess the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the elderly. Materials and methods: This is a part of a larger study, conducted as a community based cross sectional study on nutrition and health status of the elderly.Data was collected on an interview schedule in the local language among 496 the elderly persons (60 years and above) selected by multi stage sampling technique from Kancheepuram District in Tamil Nadu using semi - structured questionnaire. Nutritional assessment done using Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scale, hemoglobin estimation by Cyano-methemoglobin method and depression scaleusing Geriatric Depression Scale – Short Form (15 questions).Results:Nearly half (47.8%) of the elderly were depressed. It was found that depression is high in labourers, poorly educated, females, those living alone, without their spouse, financially dependent and lower socio economic status and with co – morbidities, anemia and malnutrition. Multi variateanalysis revealed a significant association of depressionin the elderlywith lower socio economic status (OR = 1.97), those not living with their spouse (OR= 4.5), who were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition (OR = 5.8) and who had co-morbidities including anemia and Malnutrition (OR = 1.79). Conclusion: There is an urgent need to address depression among the elderly. Mental health services to the elderly should be incorporated in the screening services rendered in primary health care settings for a proper care and support to improve their quality of life.
Authors and Affiliations
Joy Patricia Pushparani, S. Chitrasena, Ramasubramanian R.
Keywords
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- EP ID EP312353
- DOI 10.26727/NJRCM.2017.6.4.288-94
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
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