1Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital (DSMCH), Perambalur, Tamilnadu
2Post Graduate, Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital (DSMCH), Perambalur, Tamilnadu
3Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital (DSMCH), Perambalur, Tamilnadu
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Karthikeyan K., Associate Professor (Community Medicine), Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College, Perambalur, e-mail: karthikspm@gmail.com
Online published on 27 March, 2020.
Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide, with the elderly population being the most vulnerable group. As a result of changing lifestyle & increase in nuclear families, elderly people lose their support & importance in their own family. They are often neglected, leading to loneliness & depression. It is commonly seen in the rural population.
To estimate the prevalence of depression among elderly in the rural field practice area of DSMCH and to assess the socio-economic factors influencing the depression among the study population.
A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 elderly people aged 60 years and above in the rural field practice area of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan medical college and hospital, Perambalur district, Tamilnadu. The study subjects were contacted through household visits for data collection. The study was conducted for a period of 3 months (April 2017 to July 2017) using a pretested semi-structured proforma. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software trial version. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The prevalence of depression among the study subjects was 56%. Astatistically significant association was found between the prevalence of depression and the elderly who were aged ≥70 years (p value = 0.0015), females (p value = 0.0048), illiterates (p value = 0.0071), class V socio economic status (p value <0.0001), living alone (p value = 0.0205), widows & separated family (p value = 0.0117%), economically dependent (p value <0.0001), neglected & just taken care by family members (p value <0.0001).
The prevalence of depression was found to be higher in our rural population and many socio economic factors influence the depression among them. Health policy makers should take necessary steps to include a mental health programme for the elderly within the purview of the primary health care.
Geriatric, Depression, Psychiatric disorders
