Academic Journal
View in EDS

Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its associated factors among the aging population in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Prevalence of depressive symptoms and its associated factors among the aging population in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.
Authors: Oumer B; Department of Midwifery, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Abera R; Department of Public Health, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Beshah A; Department of Midwifery, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Tesfaye S; Department of Public Health, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Niguse T; Department of Midwifery, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Mohammed B; Department of Midwifery, Arba Minch Health Science College, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Yimer AA; Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia., Sidamo NB; School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia.
Source: Frontiers in psychiatry [Front Psychiatry] 2024 Aug 30; Vol. 15, pp. 1402622. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 30 (Print Publication: 2024).
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101545006 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1664-0640 (Print) Linking ISSN: 16640640 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Front Psychiatry Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Switzerland : Frontiers Research Foundation, 2010-
Abstract: Background: Depression in the elderly is becoming a major public health problem worldwide. It is a major public health problem associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. However, especially in developing countries, they usually go undetected and untreated. There is little evidence of depressive symptoms among older people in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors among the elderly population in the Gamo zone of southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 840 randomly selected elderly individuals. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to recruit participants. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) screening tool. Data collection was performed through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics were initially computed. Subsequently, logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent factors associated with the outcome variable.
Result: The finding of the study showed that the prevalence of depressive symptoms among older people living in the Gamo zone was 424(50.48%) (95% CI=47.09-53.86). Age 70-74 years [AOR=2.81, 95% CI 1.64-4.81], 75 years and above [AOR=5.09, 95% CI 3.00-8.64], age 65-69 years [AOR=2.43, 95% CI 1.62-3.66]; being widowed [AOR=2.73, 95% CI 1.69-4.42], ever chewing khat [AOR=5.89, 95% CI 1.17-29.53], being poor economic status [AOR=9.35, 95% CI 3.58-24.45], being average economic status [AOR=5.36, 95% CI 2.15-13.37], having 1-2 stressful life events [AOR=5.13, 95% CI 3.35-7.86], having 3 and above stressful life events [AOR=11.02, 95% CI 6.59,18.41], living alone [AOR=2.65, 95% CI 1.43-4.93] and those who lived with children [AOR=3.16, 95% CI 1.70-5.88] were significantly associated with depression.
Conclusion: Half of the study participants exhibited depressive symptoms. Urgent interventions are essential to enhance psychological well-being and mitigate the impact of various modifiable risk factors associated with depression symptoms in elderly individuals. This includes increasing social support, particularly for those who have experienced stressful life events, live alone, or have low economic status. Healthcare providers should implement routine screening for depressive symptoms and offer supportive counseling. Policymakers and stakeholders should prioritize improving access to mental health services.
(Copyright © 2024 Oumer, Abera, Beshah, Tesfaye, Niguse, Mohammed, Yimer and Sidamo.)
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
References: PLoS One. 2021 Oct 8;16(10):e0258105. (PMID: 34624044)
BMC Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 8;21(1):136. (PMID: 33685419)
Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 4;11(1):21641. (PMID: 34737402)
Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021 Dec 18;20(1):55. (PMID: 34922595)
BMC Psychiatry. 2018 Oct 18;18(1):338. (PMID: 30336773)
Sci Rep. 2021 May 7;11(1):9763. (PMID: 33963225)
Front Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 08;12:635832. (PMID: 33762980)
Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020 May 05;13:1509-1517. (PMID: 32440180)
Biochem Med (Zagreb). 2014 Feb 15;24(1):12-8. (PMID: 24627710)
Behav Neurol. 2020 May 16;2020:3609873. (PMID: 32509038)
J Prim Care Community Health. 2022 Jan-Dec;13:21501319221085380. (PMID: 35333667)
BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 21;12(1):e051317. (PMID: 35063957)
Lancet Psychiatry. 2022 Feb;9(2):137-150. (PMID: 35026139)
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2019 Jan 18;14(1):4. (PMID: 30658659)
Nurs Health Sci. 2020 Dec;22(4):1139-1152. (PMID: 33026688)
J Health Soc Behav. 1979 Jun;20(2):108-19. (PMID: 479524)
Indian J Psychol Med. 2019 Jan-Feb;41(1):32-37. (PMID: 30783306)
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Mar 19;14:1199-1210. (PMID: 33776497)
SAGE Open Med. 2021 Aug 19;9:20503121211040050. (PMID: 34434556)
Clin Interv Aging. 2019 Nov 04;14:1901-1910. (PMID: 31806946)
Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 28;20(1):36. (PMID: 34321017)
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1990 Jul;82(1):77-81. (PMID: 2399824)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Gamo zone; Southern Ethiopia; aging population; associated factors; community based cross-sectional; depressive symptoms
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20240916 Latest Revision: 20240917
Update Code: 20260130
PubMed Central ID: PMC11392718
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1402622
PMID: 39279808
Database: MEDLINE
Description
ISSN:1664-0640
DOI:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1402622