Unveiling the Silent Struggle: Depression and Healthcare Utilization Among the Elderly in Rural South India

Kumaran K; Lovling Aarthy Maria; Vijayakarthikeyan M; Sangeetha S S; Prema Priya G; Srishthi R D

doi:10.55489/njcm.160820255669

Authors

Kumaran K Department of General Surgery, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Lovling Aarthy Maria Department of Community Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Vijayakarthikeyan M Department of Community Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Sangeetha S S Department of Community Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Prema Priya G Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Srishthi R D CRMI, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospitals, Vinayaka Missions Research Foundation Deemed to be University (VMRF DU), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.160820255669

Keywords:

Old age, Mental health, Health seeking, Depression

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the mental health issues that has a significant worldwide impact. Findings: Majority of the cases of depression are either underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as most of the time the symptoms are masked by cognitive decline due to ageing. The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of depression among the elderly and to identify the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with geriatric depression.

Methodology: Using the Simple Random Sampling technique, 2000 elderly individuals participated in this cross-sectional analytical study. Depression was evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS 15). The enter method was used to do a multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis.

Results: According to GDS-15, depression affected 40.1% of the elderly population. Age (61–80) years, financial dependence on family and presence of chronic comorbidity were the variables in multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis that were significantly linked to geriatric depression. About 42.5% visit the health facility only when sick and majority 60.6% preferred government health facility.

Conclusion: Reducing the growing prevalence of late-life mental health problems in aging populations requires improving economic stability, addressing social causes, and encouraging regular screening for depression in older persons.

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