A Study to Assess the Level of Depression among Old Age People in Selected Villages in Mehsana District, Gujarat

 

Rajesh Joshi

Lecturer, Joitiba College of Nursing, Bhandu, Tal- Visnagar, Dist- Mehsana (Gujarat)

 

ABSTRACT:

Background- Ageing has not only social but also economic, political and health-related implications.  Globally, prevalence of depression in geriatric population varies from 10% to 20%, while in India; it is even higher varying from 13% to 25%.¹Aims and objective- To assess the level of depression of among old age peoples and to associate the level of depression with selected demographic variables. Material and Methods- A cross sectional survey approach with descriptive research design was used. 200 old age peoples residing in valam, Kherava, Unava and Bhandu villages were selected by using purposive sampling technique. A 30 items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire was used. Result-  37% participants were belong to 60-65 years of age, 52% were male, 45% participant educated up to primary level, 97% were hindu, 76.5% participants not having any occupation, 48% had semi pakka type of house, 59% were belong to joint family, 36% had monthly income between 5001-10000. 97% were having medical illnesses. Finding on level of depression shown that Highest 51% (102) old age peoples had moderate level of depression and lowest 12% (24) had severe level of depression whereas 37% (74) had normal score. There was significant association found between level of depression with demographic variables like educational status. No association found with other demographic variable.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

“The misery of a child is interesting to the mother, the misery of a young man is interesting to a young woman, and the misery of an old man is interesting to nobody”

Victor Hugo.

 

The ageing of population is a worldwide phenomena, more evident in developed countries but occurring more rapidly in developing countries.²The world's elderly population - 650 million (age >60).3In India by the year 2001 there were around 76 millions elderly people who constituted 7.7% of the country population.³ By the year 2020, the estimated population of the elderly is expected to be 142 millions that is 11% of country population which is expected to increase further to 14% by 2025.

 

²Depression 3rd leading contributor to global burden of disease (DALYs) in 2004 (update 2008). By the year 2020, may be 2nd place.⁴ The World Health Organization estimated that the overall prevalence rate of depressive disorders among elderly generally caries between 10% and 20% depending on cultural situations.⁵ The community based mental health studies in India have revealed that the point prevalence of depressive disorders in elderly Indian population varies between 10 and 25 percent.⁶Thestudy reported that the prevalence of depression among aged in Surat City as 39%.⁷Though depression is the commonest mental health problem in old age, very few community based studies have been conducted in India to understand the problem. Hence the investigators undertook the said study.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

A non-experimental descriptive research design was used with cross sectional survey approach. 200 old age peoples residing in valam, Kherava, Unava and Bhandu villages were selected by using nonprobability purposive sampling technique. Structured interview schedule was used for data collection. The questionnaires comprises of two sections. Section A consist socio demographic variable and Section B consists30 items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) created by Yesavage et al was used. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

 

RESULT:

Socio demographic data shown that 37% participants were belong to 60-65 years of age, 52% were male, 45% participant educated up to primary level, 97% were hindu, 76.5% participants not having any occupation, 48% had semi pakka type of house, 59% were belong to joint family, 36% had monthly income between 5001-10000. 97% were having medical illnesses.(Table 1).

 

Table 1

 

Table 2 (Level of Depression)

 

Finding of level of depression shown that Highest 51% (102) old age peoples had moderate level of depression and lowest 12% (24) had severe level of depression whereas 37% (74) had normal score.(Table 2).There was significant association found between level of depression with demographic variables like educational status. No association found with other demographic variable. (Table 3)

 

Table 3

*p<0.05= significant

 

CONCLUSION:

Old age is one of the most vulnerable age groups and requires more attention and care from the other age groups. Depression in older adults is a substantial problem in this village. These findings could guide community-based program managers to devise and implement effective and timely mental health interventions for older adults, in order to prevent geriatric depression and develop a comprehensive strategy for its early diagnosis.

 

REFERENCE:

1.       Poongothai S, Pradeepa R, Ganesan A, Mohan V. Prevalence of depression in a large urban South Indian population - The Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES-70). PloS One2009; 4:E7185.

2.       Gulani KK. Community health nursing principles and practice. 1st ed. Delhi (India): Kumar publishing house publisher; 2009, P. 469.

3.       Rajkumar AP, Thangadurai IP, Senthilkumar1P, Gayathri IK, Prince1M, Jacob KS. Nature, prevalence and factors associated with depression among the elderly in a rural south Indian community. International Psychogeriatrics (2009), 21:2, 372–378

4.       WHO. Promoting Mental Health: Concepts, Emerging Evidences and practice. 2005.

5.       Rangaswamy SM (ed) 2001. World health Report: Mental Health : new understanding New Hope. The world health Organization; Geneva, Switzerland.

6.       Nandi PS, Banerjee G, Mukherjee SP, Nandi S, Nandi DN. A Study of Psychiatric Morbidity of the Elderly Population of a Rural Community in West Bengal. Indian J. Psych. 1997, 39(2), 122-9.

7.       Jariwala Vishal1, Bansal RK2, Patel Swati3, Tamakuwala Bimal4, A study of depression among aged in surat city, National Journal of Community Medicine 2010, Vol. 1, Issue 1

 

 

Received on 30.10.2014                Modified on 15.11.2014

Accepted on 20.11.2014                © A&V Publication all right reserved