1Postgraduate Student Department of Community Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka
2Assistant Professor Department of Community Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka
3Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka
Several biomedical and psychosocial problems lead to poor quality of life in the elderly. Major depression is known to affect 1 out of 100 individuals above 65 years of age.
To estimate the prevalence of depression among the elderly population in an urban area and the factors associated with depression.
A cross-sectional community-based study on 216 elderly individuals was undertaken over a period of two months from 1st June 2016 to 31st July 2016.
Prevalence of depression was found to be 41%. Age, financial dependency, marital status, type of family and feeling of neglect showed association with depression.
Prevalence of elderly depression is high in the study area. Identified risk factors have to be addressed to prevent depression among the elderly.
Depression, geriatrics, health of elderly, mental health, psychological problems
