A Prevalence of Depression and Their Risk Factors among the Elderly Population in the Slum Area of Chennais
Author(s): Yamuna Devi Ravi*, B. Narmatha Devi, A.R. Adhilakshmi and P.Seenivasan
Abstract
Background: Aging is a natural process and old age is an incurable disease. India is turning into grey nation, with 8% of the elderly population aged above 60, which is likely to rise to 19% by the year 2050. Mental disorders were noted commonly in this age group and depression is the most common psychiatric disorder among them which go unnoticed. Prevalence of depression varies from 13%-25%. Only few studies are there which focuses on depression among elderly. Our study aims in finding the prevalence of depression in urban slum in Chennai and to find out the risk factors associated with it.
Aim:
• To find out the prevalence of depression among the elderly population in the slum area, Chennai.
• To find the risk factors associated with the depression.
Methodology: His is a cross sectional study done in 5 zones in Chennai which is chosen by multistage random sampling. Final sample size attained is 460 which is based on Barua a et al study16.The participants are selected based on inclusion criteria. Pre-structured questionnaire with GDS scale -15 was used in our study. The data was entered in excel sheet in Windows 10. Analysis done through SPSS 23. Continuous variables expressed in Mean ±Standard deviation and Categorical variables expressed in Numbers and percentages. P value <0.05 is considered as statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of depression in our study is 17% (80). Female preponderance is noted. Education, Occupation, Comorbidity, Type of family, Socio-economic status were found to be associated with depression and there difference is statistically significant.
Conclusion: More studies have to done to throw light on the risk factors. Recreational homes should be created for rehabilitation. Screening programmes to identify depression in elderly at the earliest should be done and treatment should be started as early as possible.