ASSESSMENT OF DEPRESSION AMONG ELDERLY PERSONS RESIDING IN CHHATTISGARH.

Abstract

India's “National Policy on older persons” classies 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 identied at an early stage, so that proper interventions can be started at the primary care level to ensure healthy ageing.