Abstract
BackgroundDepression is an important public health concern due to its devastating morbidity and mortality among older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among older adults (age ≥ 60 years) in Ambo Town, Ethiopia, 2016.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults in Ambo town from May to June 2016. Geriatric depression scale item 15 (GDS 15) was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with 800 study participants. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to calculate significance.ResultsThe prevalence of depression was found to be 41.8% [CI = 38.5%, 45.5%]. The multivariable logistic regression model revealed that female sex (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.66), trading (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI =1.32, 4.57), living with children (AOR = 3.19, 95% CI =1.14, 8.93) and retirement (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.11, 7.35) were associated with depression among older adults.ConclusionThe prevalence of depression among older adult was found to be high. Due emphasis needs to be given to screening and treating depression, especially among older females, retired individuals, adults living with children and merchants.
Highlights
Depression is an important public health concern due to its devastating morbidity and mortality among older adults
This finding was higher than the finding of a systematic review in a Caucasian population, where 1 to 16% of the older adults had depression according to both community and institution based study [32]
The finding of this study is higher than the finding of a community-based survey in Thailand, where a 12-item questionnaire of Thai validated Euro-Depressions scale was used and a 28.5% depression prevalence was noted in old age [33]
Summary
Depression is an important public health concern due to its devastating morbidity and mortality among older adults. Depression is a common mental health disorder in late-life and an important public health problem because of its devastating consequences at any given time in a community. Depression was the second global disease burden in 2010 and it is projected to be the first cause of years lived with disability (YLD) in 2020 [4]. It has been increasing in terms of both disability and mortality rates around the world.
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