Prevalence of depression and associated factors among elderly people in Womberma District, north-west, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Depression is a common mental disorder that suffers many elderly people who are neglected, their problems are overlooked, and no efforts are made to mitigate their suffering. It is a mental health problem which is both underdiagnosed and under treated in primary care settings. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among elderly people in Womberma District, Ethiopia. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 10/2020 - April 08/2020. From a 2269 study population, 959 study participants were selected by using computer-generated simple random sampling techniques from selected kebeles. Data were collected using Geriatric depression scale item 15 through face-to-face interviews. Then, entered into EpiData version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 23.0 for analyses. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify associated factors of depression. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was reported and statistical significance was declared at P-values < 0.05. Results The prevalence of depression among elderly people was 45% [95% CI: 41.7–48.5%]. Being female [AOR = 1.60, 95% CI [(1.15–2.23)], (age > =75 years [AOR = 7.95, 95% CI (4.98–12.68)], age 70–74 years [AOR = 5.52, 95% CI (3.52–8.66)], age 65–69 years [AOR = 2.39,95% CI (1.54–3.70)]; divorced [AOR = 2.53, 95% CI (1.59–4.03)], widowed [AOR = 2.65, 95% CI (1.61–4.34)]; poor social support [AOR = 3.32, 95% CI (1.77–6.23)] and presence of known chronic disease [AOR = 1.91, 95% CI (1.30–2.81)] were significantly associated factors with depression. Conclusions In this study, the prevalence of depression among elderly people was high compared with previous studies done in other parts of Ethiopia. Older age, being female, marital loss, presence of known chronic disease, and poor social support were contributing factors for depression among elders. Early screening and co-morbidity management of depression should be comprised in basic primary health care packages. And also, ensuring adequate social support by establishing the Geriatrics care center could play a crucial role to mitigate the suffering of the elders from marital loss provoked loneness and depression.

Prevalence of Self-Neglect and Associated Factors Among Disability Elderly in China

“…Another study conducted with elderly living alone revealed a positive correlation between depressive symptoms and self-neglect [3]. Elderly with depressive symptoms tends to have lower life expectations, loss of interest or pleasure in activities and sense of hopelessness [24], all of which may increase their risk for self-neglect. Not surprisingly, higher levels of depression also signi cantly predict higher suicidal ideation among disability elderly [25].…”

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

“…However, this study finding was higher than study done in North Indian (9.5%) [ 11 ], Malaysian (16.5%) [ 3 ], Tanzania 21.2% [ 17 ], a systematic review conducted in China (38.6%) [ 19 ], Thailand (18.5%) [ 20 ], Ambo, Ethiopia (41.8%) [ 21 ], Singapore 13.4% [ 14 ], China 32.8% [ 16 ], and Womberma district, Ethiopia (45%) [ 9 ]. This variation might be due to social-cultural, economic disparities, and the heterogeneity in the classification of depression, i.e., they utilized a GDS-15 score of 6 and above to define depression, which could lead to an underestimating of depression prevalence in Chinan [ 19 ].…”

“…According to numerous studies showed, the prevalence of depression in older adults (aged 60 and above) in Chitradurga was 60% [ 8 ], while in Womberma District, Ethiopia, it was 45%. [ 9 ] South Africa 40% [ 10 ], North Indians 9.5% [ 11 ], Vietnam 6.9% [ 12 ], Egypt 44.4% [ 13 ], Malaysia systematic 16.5% [ 3 ], Singapore [ 14 ] 13.4%, Ethiopia (Harer) 28.5% [ 15 ], Ambo 41.8%, Chinese tertiary hospital 32.8% [ 16 ], Tanzania 21.2% [ 17 ], Greece 58.5% [ 18 ], systematic review conducted in Asian countries 38.6% [ 19 ] and Thailand 18.5% [ 20 ]. Suicide risk is higher among older adults when they are depressed.…”

“…Genetic susceptibility, chronic disease and disability, pain, frustration with limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), personality traits (dependent, anxious, or avoidant), and adverse life events (separation, divorce, bereavement, poverty, social isolation) are all factors that increase depression risk in older adults, according to the WHO [ 7 ]. Also, many studies have shown a link between depression and various risk factors such as being a woman, living in a city, insomnia, older adults who are dependent on others, life stressors, lack of a spouse, lack of formal education, lower income, substance abuse, stressful life events, poor social support, more disability, lower life satisfaction, cognitive decline, employment status, and medical comorbidities [ 9 – 11 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 20 – 22 ].…”

Developing a nomogram for predicting the depression of senior citizens living alone while focusing on perceived social support

“…Although the number of senior citizens living alone is increasing, few researchers have identified factors related to the characteristics of depression in these individuals by using epidemiological survey data representative of this population group. Although epidemiological surveys on the prevalence of depression in the senile stage have been actively conducted in many countries[ 10 - 13 ], the prevalence of depression varied between them due to differences in the survey sampling methods, depression testing tools, and evaluation methodology. Researchers usually use two-phase designs in psychiatric epidemiological studies to classify subjects into a depression-positive group and a depression-negative group quickly and economically by using a simple standardized screening test in the first phase followed by conducting a robust diagnostic test in the second phase to save on the labor and economic burden[ 14 ].…”