Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 5

Treat the Troika: Does Depression and Malnutrition affect Activities of Daily Living?−A Study among Elderly Soliga Tribes, b. r. Hills, Karnataka

  • Author:
  • Meghana Narendran1,, D Sunil Kumar2, Praveen Kulkarni3, M Renuka4, Narayana Murthy5
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 53 to 58

1Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine, JSS medical College, Mysuru

2Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, JSS medical College, Mysuru

3Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, JSS medical College, Mysuru

4Professor, Department of Community Medicine, JSS medical College, Mysuru

5Professor and Head of the Department Department of Community Medicine, JSS medical College, Mysuru

Abstract

Tribal population in India are the most underprivileged and their problems depend on their remoteness from the rest of the communities. Among them, elderly are often deprived of nutritional and health care facilities and also depression many times be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

To assess the Socio-demographic profile, Depression, Nutritional status and Activities of daily living (ADL) among elderly.

This cross-sectional study was done in all the five tribal hamlets of Biligiriranga Hills, Karnataka for a period of two months. A pretested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect details regarding socio-demographic characteristics and standard questionnaires like Standard of Living Index, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini Nutritional Assessment and Katz Index of Independence in ADL. All persons 60 years and above residing in the house were included for study, the sample size was total of 132 participants.

Among the study participants 59 (44.7%) males and 73 (55.3%) females. Forty one (31.1%) belonged to low SLI, 18 (13.6%) were suggestive of Depression, 77 (58.3%) were at Risk of Malnutrition and 31 (23.5%) were Malnourished. Forty five (34.1%) were underweight and 7 (5.3%) had decreased ADL.

The study showed increased risk for elderly malnutrition and most of them are underweight and few are suggestive of depression. There is a need for geriatric clinic that can take care of their physical and psychological needs and this together has a significant impact on their quality of life.

Keywords

Geriatric, Soliga tribes, depression, malnutrition