Depression as an emerging public health problem in rural India: a case study of a geriatric population in a tribal region of eastern Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background

Geriatric mental health is emerging as a major public health concern for an

increasingly ageing world population. There are few population-based studies to

investigate age-related depression and its correlates in rural settings. The

objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of

depression among elderly people in a rural area of Central India.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 elderly

people (aged ?60 years) in Dhakani, a rural village in Gondia District, Eastern

Maharashtra, Central India. Depression was assessed using the 15-item Geriatric

Depression Scale (GDS-15). Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 20

and statistical association was considered significant at p<0.05.

Results

The prevalence of depression among rural elderly was 13% (95% CI: 8.7-18.5%). The mean GDS-15 score of the study

population was 2.46±2.45. On univariate analysis, women were found to be significantly more depressed than men

[OR 3.76 (95% CI: 1.41-9.97)]. Multivariate analysis did not identify any major predictors of depression in the elderly.

Conclusion

Depression was found mainly in elderly women. We recommend that trained geriatric care counsellors be appointed

from the community to regularly screen for depression among this vulnerable group, so that interventions can be

initiated early to promote mental health and prevent geriatric depression.