Psychological distress and depression in urbanising elderly black persons.
The findings of a comparative community survey of the socioeconomic, cultural and psychiatric state of elderly black persons in a newly settled township (Khayelitsha--170 persons) and a long established one (Langa--195 persons) revealed marked differences. Symptoms of psychological distress, depression and limitation of daily activities were generally more marked in the former and strikingly so among women: 66% had symptoms warranting further investigation and 44% would have been treated for a depressive disorder if seen by a psychiatrist. Extreme poverty existed in both townships but the Khayelitsha subjects were less well educated, their accommodation was poorer, and fewer had old-age pensions. Elderly black women in newly settled townships have therefore been identified as having high priority for psychiatric and social services.
Gillis
L S
LS
MRC Clinical Psychiatry Research Unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
Welman
M
M
Koch
A
A
Joyi
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D044383:Black People; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013383:Suburban Population; D014505:Urban Population; D014507:Urbanization