Depression Among the Elderly Population in a Rural Community : A Study of its Prevalence and Correlates.

ABSTRACT

Background: The next few decades are expected to see an unprecedented increase in the number of older people needing mental health interventions in India. The elders living in rural areas represent a special risk group. Objective: To assess the magnitude of depression and its significant sociodemographic correlates among elderly. Setting: Rural community of Delhi, India. Participants: Elderly aged above fifty years, selected by cluster sampling. Tool Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Statistical Analysis: Proportions, Chi square test. Results: Mean age of the sample population was 61.7 ± 8.2 years and included 58% females. It was found that 45 (35.7%) of the subjects had a score suggestive of depression. Poor sleep at night and tension at home, poor perception of own health, not receiving any financial support in the form of pension for self or spouse and poor nutritional indicators were found to be associated with depression. Depression was less common among those who had a positive approach, including doing some exercise daily (p=0.03) and doing yoga daily (p=0.026). Conclusion: The present study found a significant proportion of the rural elderly population to having depressive symptoms and several important risk factors were found to be associated with depression. Identification of these risk factors among the elderly population at higher risk for depression can help to plan for better care of the elderly.