Muniswamy Sundar, Rajani Urs H. S
BACKGROUND As the life expectancy is increasing, the geriatric population in the world are also increasing. Older people face many physical and mental health challenges which need to be recognized. Over 20% of adults aged 60 and above suffer from a mental or neurological disorder, depression being the commonest. Hence study was taken up to determine the prevalence of Depression and the socioeconomic factors influencing it. MATERIALS AND METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was done in the rural area of PHC Kowshika, for a period of six months. Total 930 subjects participated in the study. Depression among elderly (>60 years) population in the study area was assessed using geriatric depression scale, cognitive impairment assessed using HMSE scale, socio-demographic details were taken and barriers in seeking health care was assessed. RESULTS Out of 930 study participants, 58.6% were females and 41.4% were males. Age of the participants ranged from 61-100 years with the mean age of 78.48 years. Among the total study participants 68.6% were illiterates, 71.93% belonged to upper class of socio economic status and 48.8% were having high standard of living conditions. Prevalence of depression among the study population was 27.74%; and 18.49% of them were in the severely depressed group. 60.21% had cognitive impairment. Depression was more common among people with lower SES, less common among literates and people with high standards of living. CONCLUSION Prevalence of Depression using GDS scale among elderly population in the study area was 27.74 %. And depression was more common among people with low SES and less among people who had education, occupation and good standards of living.
