Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

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Socio-demographic Determinants of Mental Health Problems among Rural Elderly Population


Affiliations
1 Department of Community Medicine, Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences (ASRAMS), Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. PIN-534005, India
2 P. E. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, A. P, India
3 Chennai Medical college Hospital and Research Center, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
4 N. R. I. Medical College, Mangalagiri, A. P, India
5 S. V. Medical College, Tirupati, A. P, India
     

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Background: Mental health problems like depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, sleep disorders etc. arising out of senility, neurosis and living conditions are common in geriatric population.

Objectives: To study the psychiatric morbidity among the rural elderly in relation to their sociodemographic profile.

Materials and Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 rural elderly subjects aged >60 years living in three randomly selected villages of RHC Chandragiri. Cognitive functioning was assessed by Mini Mental Status Examination and the depression, by Geriatric Depression Scale-Shorter version. Data was analysed with Epi-info software using proportions, chi-square and z tests.

Results: Majority of the subjects were widows/widowers, illiterates, living with family, showing economic dependency. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 43.25%, with a mean MMSE score of 23.32+4.4 and that of depression were 47.0% and 6.16+3.4 respectively. Cognitive impairment, depression and disturbed sleep pattern were associated with female sex, age, illiteracy, poverty, loneliness and poor status in family.

Conclusions: The study showed a definite association between socio-demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity. Encouraging the NGOs working for the elderly, running of separate clinics and effective implementation of schemes like old age pension are some of the measures to be taken.


Keywords

Geriatric, Socio-demography, Depression, Cognitive Impairment, Sleep Disorders, Mini Mental Status Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale
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  • Socio-demographic Determinants of Mental Health Problems among Rural Elderly Population

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Authors

Sreedhar Kumar
Department of Community Medicine, Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences (ASRAMS), Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. PIN-534005, India
P Rajasekhar
P. E. S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kuppam, A. P, India
N Bayapa Reddy
Chennai Medical college Hospital and Research Center, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
T S R Sai
N. R. I. Medical College, Mangalagiri, A. P, India
G Ravi Prabhu
S. V. Medical College, Tirupati, A. P, India
N Swarnalatha
S. V. Medical College, Tirupati, A. P, India

Abstract


Background: Mental health problems like depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, sleep disorders etc. arising out of senility, neurosis and living conditions are common in geriatric population.

Objectives: To study the psychiatric morbidity among the rural elderly in relation to their sociodemographic profile.

Materials and Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 rural elderly subjects aged >60 years living in three randomly selected villages of RHC Chandragiri. Cognitive functioning was assessed by Mini Mental Status Examination and the depression, by Geriatric Depression Scale-Shorter version. Data was analysed with Epi-info software using proportions, chi-square and z tests.

Results: Majority of the subjects were widows/widowers, illiterates, living with family, showing economic dependency. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 43.25%, with a mean MMSE score of 23.32+4.4 and that of depression were 47.0% and 6.16+3.4 respectively. Cognitive impairment, depression and disturbed sleep pattern were associated with female sex, age, illiteracy, poverty, loneliness and poor status in family.

Conclusions: The study showed a definite association between socio-demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity. Encouraging the NGOs working for the elderly, running of separate clinics and effective implementation of schemes like old age pension are some of the measures to be taken.


Keywords


Geriatric, Socio-demography, Depression, Cognitive Impairment, Sleep Disorders, Mini Mental Status Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale

References