Prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression among the community-dwelling elderly in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Myanmar

Abstract

Providing elderly mental healthcare in Myanmar is challenging due to the growing elderly population and limited health resources. To understand common mental health problems among Myanmar elderly, this study explored the prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression among the elderly in the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, Myanmar. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 655 elderly by face-to-face interviews with a pretested questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 39.4% (33.5% for males and 42.4% for females) and 35.6% (33.0% for males and 36.9% for females), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of having anxiety was significant for having low education level, having comorbidity, having BMI < 21.3, poor dental health, no social participation, and having no one to consult regarding personal problems, while that of having depression was significant for having comorbidity, having BMI < 21.3, poor vision, and having no one to consult regarding personal problems. The reported prevalence of anxiety and depression indicate the demand for mental healthcare services among Myanmar elderly. Myanmar needs to improve its elderly care, mental healthcare, and social security system to reflect the actual needs of its increasing elderly population. Screening for anxiety and depression among elderly with comorbidities should be promoted. Raising community awareness of mental health, encouraging social participation, and supportive counselling are also essential in combating anxiety and depression among Myanmar elderly.

Social support moderates the association of functional difficulty with major depression among community-dwelling older adults: evidence from LASI, 2017–18

“…The higher prevalence of depression after retirement could be due to the fact that after they stop working, individuals may lose their social and psychological benefits of being active which in turn contribute to depression [ 67 ]. It is found that rural resident older adults were significantly at higher risk of experiencing depression than their urban resident counterparts and this evidence is supported by previous studies [ 63 , 73 ]. It is observed that urban resident older adults have higher access of healthcare services and social resources than rural areas.…”

“…This study found that oldest-old respondents had lower depressive symptoms than their younger counterparts. People in older ages tend to have more experiences of negative emotions that lead to develop positive attitudes towards stressful events and increase their ability to fight health risks and have better mental health by utilizing available resources and services [ 73 ]. Concurrent with contemporary literature [ 6 , 63 ], our study also indicates that older women were more prone to have major depression than men.…”

“…Previous findings also reported a negative association between educational attainment and depression [ 58 , 59 , 61 , 64 ]. Higher educational attainment can reduce the risk of depression since those who are educated may be more aware of availability and accessibility of the health services, and may have better healthcare utilization and improved health behavior among older adults [ 73 ]. Therefore, initiatives that diagnose and treat the symptoms of depression should be priortized especially among older adults with low levels of education.…”

Depression and associated factors among older adults in Bahir Dar city administration, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020: Cross-sectional study

“…Older adults with a monthly income <2004 ETB were nearly 2 times more likely to have depression as compared to participants with an income of ≥2004 ETB. Similar to a finding of different studies reported in Asia (Myanma) [ 45 ], North Indians [ 11 ], and Portugal [ 46 ]. This is the finding that low-income people have more difficult getting healthy services and care, which has been associated with higher levels of depression.…”

Seeking bridge symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance among the elderly during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic—A network approach

“…Meanwhile, younger members should venerate and care for elderly members. Thus, Chinese elderly adults are particularly worried about illness or poverty from which they may fail to support and lead the family or become a heavy burden to their children for physical illness and low social-economic status ( 47 ). In this reactive chain, elderly adults' great concerns for the family can strengthen their nervousness about imminent issues.…”