Depression in elderly people living in rural Nigeria and its association with perceived health, poverty, and social network.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between late-life depression, poverty, social network, and perceived health is little studied in Africa; the magnitude of the problem remains largely unknown and there is an urgent need to research into this area.


METHODS
We interviewed community dwelling elderly persons of two rural areas in Nigeria using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Those who scored 11 and above on the GDS-30 were further interviewed using Geriatric Mental State Schedule (GMSS). Diagnosis of depression was based on the International Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) and GMSS-Automated Geriatric Examination for Computer Assisted Taxonomy (GMMS-AGECAT).


RESULTS
A total of 458 community dwelling elderly persons participated in the study of which 57% were females. Mean age of the participants was 73.65(±7.8) years (95% CI 72.93-74.37). The mean GDS-30 and MMSE scores were 4.15(±4.80) and 21.73(±4.67), respectively. A total of 59 and 58 participants had depression based on ICD-10 criteria and GMSS-AGECAT, respectively. Agreement between ICD-10 and AGECAT diagnoses was κ = 0.931. By multiple logistic regression analysis, late-life depression was significantly associated with financial difficulties (Odds ratio 4.52 and bereavement Odds ratio 2.70).


CONCLUSIONS
Late-life depression in this cohort is associated with health and socio-economic factors that are worth paying attention to, in a region of economic deprivation and inadequate healthcare.
Department of Psychiatry,College of Medicine,University of Ibadan,Nigeria.
Olusegun
O
Baiyewu
Department of Psychiatry,Faculty of Medicine,Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,Nigeria.
Abdulkareem Jika
AJ
Yusuf
Federal Neuro-Psychiatry Hospital Aro,Abeokuta,Nigeria.
Adefolakemi
A
Ogundele
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001601:Bereavement; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
depression; elderly; poverty; rural area