Prevalence of Urban Geriatric Depression - A Cross sectional Study in Pondicherry
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
Background: Geriatric depression is an important public health problem. There is a dearth of community studies from India investigating geriatric depression and its associated risk factors. This study aimed to establish the nature, prevalence and factors associated with geriatric depression in an urban south Indian community. Methods: This was a cross sectional study in an urban background. 100 individuals in the geriatric age group were randomly selected from among the members list of the Vilianur senior citizens society. They were administered the Geriatric depression scale and the results were compiled and analyzed by chi2 with Yates correction using the statistical software SPSS 19. Results: Prevalence of geriatric depression was 98% with 78% mild and 20% severe depression. Majority were from the lower socio economic status. The prevalence of mild depression among males was 80.8% and it was 75.4% among females while 14.8% males had severe depression as compared to 24.5% of the females. Looking at the sleep patterns, again the proportion of severe depression was significantly higher among the ones that had a disturbed sleep (25.4%) when compared to those with a satisfactory sleep pattern (10.8%). The proportion of severe depression was significantly higher among those participants whose spouse had expired (38.8% vs 8.1%] Conclusions: Geriatric depression is highly prevalent in this urban community. Higher age, disturbed sleep pattern, death of spouse etc were some of the factors that had an association with chances of depression.
Authors and Affiliations
R. S Bharatwaj, K. Vijaya, P. Rajaram
Keywords
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