Risk Factors for Depression in Elderly Persons Attending the General Outpatient Clinics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo
Journal Title: Journal of Medical Science And clinical Research - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: The growing populations of elderly people in Sub-Saharan Africa are exposed to social changes with potential adverse effects on mental health, one of such effects is depression. Depression is a disabling illness that affects even the most basic everyday task. There is therefore a growing and urgent need for mental care in the elderly. Aim and Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for depression in elderly persons attending the General Out- patient Clinics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Three hundred and ten (310) elderly persons attending the General Out- patient Clinics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for medical conditions between July and September, 2014, who met the inclusion criteria, were consecutively recruited. All respondents were screened for depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale. Details of sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents as well as risk factors for depression were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 and the level of statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: A total number of three hundred and ten subjects were recruited for the study. One hundred and seventy-seven subjects (57.1%) were females and one hundred and thirty-three (42.9%) were males. The female to male ratio of subjects recruited was 1.3:1. The age range of respondents were 60 and 90 years and the mean age (±SD) of the study subjects was 67.4 (± 6.6) years. From the study, significant risk factors for depression after logistic regression were loneliness and neglect, having no income, stressful life events, and financial failures. However, marital status and educational level had an association with depression when univariate analysis was done. Conclusion: It was observed that poor income, loneliness and neglect, and stressful life events were risk factors for depression among these elderly respondents.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr Uduak-Obong M. Morgan
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP502395
- DOI -
- Views 64
- Downloads 0
Clinical Study and Management of Varicose Veins
The prevalence of Varicose veins has been variously reported from as little as 2% to over 20% in population studies. The prevalence of varicose veins rises with age. The aim of the present study is to analyse the cases o...
Shoulder Charcot- a Presage of Cervical Syrinx
Neuropathic arthropathy, otherwise called as charcot joint is a range of destructive disease process involving the bone and joints , resulting secondary to neurosensory deficit. It was first described by JeanMartin Charc...
Emerging Significance of Measuring Non HDL - Cholesterol in CAD
Coronary Artery Disease burden is alarmingly high and is a purpose of challenge. There are many correctable danger factors for CAD. Of these dyslipidemia has the highest danger for myocardial infarction. Of all the lipop...
Visual Outcome and surgically induced astigmatism in manual small incision cataract surgery versus phacoemulsification with rigid 5.25mm PMMA IOLs
Abstract
Prevalence and determinants of internet addiction among undergraduate medical students of Rewa, M.P.
Background: Recent increase in ease to internet availability, its low cost and emergence of many social media apps have jointly resulted in exponential increase in use of internet specially among youngsters like medical...