ABSTRACT
Background: Depression, the most common psychiatric disorder among the elderly, is not yet perceived as an important health problem in India, where few population-based studies have addressed this problem. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of depression and identify the associated risk factors in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: 3038 consenting elderly (>60 years old) rural and urban residents of both sexes from the fi eld practice areas were interviewed and examined in a cross-sectional study. Physical impairment in the subjects was assessed with the Everyday Abilities Scale for India (EASI), depression by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and cognitive impairment by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using Epi Info version-6 software. Statistical analysis included proportions, χ2-test, odds ratio, and its 95% confi dence interval. Multiple logistic regression was done using SPSS version 21. Results: The prevalence of depression in the study population was 8.9%. It was signifi cantly higher in urban residents, females, older elderly, nuclear families, in those living alone, those not working, illiterates, poor, functionally impaired, and cognitively impaired. In the multivariate analysis, unmarried/widowed status, unemployment, and illiteracy did not emerge as risk factors. Conclusions: Urban residence, female gender, higher age, nuclear family, poverty, and functional and cognitive impairment were found to be associated with depression even after controlling for other factors.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cognitive impairment, an age-related condition, is often considered a precursor to more serious diseases such as depression/dementia/Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease, which is characterized by cognitive impairment, could have a devastating impact on low- and middle-income countries whose populations are ageing rapidly. The disease has, so far, largely remained neglected by researchers and national health services in India. In view of the growing elderly population and diverse sociocultural and geographical milieu of India, epidemiological data for the condition are desirable for different populations. Moreover, there is a dearth of population-based epidemiological studies on cognitive impairment in the Punjab state of India. Methods: Three thousand and thirty-eight consenting elderly adults aged over 60 years, of both sexes, residing in Ludhiana, Punjab state, India were examined for cognitive functioning, using a modified Hindi Mental State Examination, and a score of ≤25 was considered to be indicative of cognitive impairment. Data analysis included calculations of proportions; odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also calculated. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression model were used to determine the association of cognitive impairment with various sociodemographic parameters. Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in the study population was 8.8% (95% CI = 8.06 to 9.54). Increasing age, unmarried/widowed status, illiteracy, unemployment and poverty were found to be independently associated with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: The prevalence of cognitive impairment in this north Indian population of elderly individuals is higher than that found in northern India. With emerging focus on geriatric health services, cognitive impairment, which is a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease/dementias, needs to be included in priority care within the national primary health-care framework.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess HIV serostatus, knowledge, behaviour and practices regarding HIV/AIDS among blood donors, pregnant women and the general population in Ludhiana and to find out any association between these factors. METHODS: The descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among blood donors attending the blood bank, pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics of the peripheral health centres of the department of Community Medicine, Christian Medical College Ludhiana, and the general population of the field practice areas of the Department, aged 15 years or more and willing to join the investigation. The study subjects were interviewed through a self-administered questionnaire and screened for HIV using ELISA technique. Seropositivity rates in the population groups and possible risk factors were compared, using EpiInfo 6.04d software. RESULTS: Prevalence of HIV infection was found to be 0.30 % (95 % CI 0.10 - 0.70) in the general population studied, 0.12 % (95 % CI 0.05 - 0.28) in the blood donors, and nil in the pregnant women. The respondents were deficient in knowledge about the modes of spread of HIV/AIDS. No significant association was established between HIV sero-positivity and gender, age group, education, occupation, HbsAg status, or knowledge about the modes of spread of HIV/AIDS. Sexually active unmarried young people 15-24 years old, those indulging in extra-marital sex, and those addicted to opium/poppy-husk were observed to be at higher risk of HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The studied population groups have very low HIV seroprevalence. Misconceptions and lack of knowledge need to be corrected through education and awareness to avoid high-risk behaviour and prevent HIV infection.