ASSESSMENT OF DEPRESSION AMONG ELDERLY PERSONS RESIDING IN CHHATTISGARH

ABSTRACT

India's “National Policy on older persons” classifies 60 years and above as aged who will constitute 10% of the total population by 2021. It is estimated that depression affects approximately 350 million people worldwide. An increasing geriatric population is associated with rising prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases; therefore, the magnitude of depression is also expected to grow. Keeping the above background in mind, the present study will be conducted among elderly to determine the prevalence of depression. A cross sectional study was carried among 685 elderly people selected by Cluster Sampling and contacted through house to house survey in urban, rural and tribal areas of Chhattisgarh using a pre designed structured questionnaire i.e. Geriatric depression scale. It was found that 11.8% subjects were having depression, 25.1% were suggestive of depression and 63.1% subjects were not having any depressive symptoms. It is concluded that depression is prevalent among elderly persons residing in tribal area therefore it needs to be identified at an early stage, so that proper interventions can be started at the primary care level to ensure healthy ageing.