A study to Assess the Proportion of Age-related problems and Psychosocial distress among Elderly in Urban field practice area of BMCRI,Bengaluru

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Human resource is considered as an asset for a country. It plays an important role in economic development and growth. Population ageing has profound social, economic and political implications for a country. The increasing number of older persons put a strain on health care and social care systems in the country. Ageing is mainly associated with social isolation, poverty, apparent reduction in family support, inadequate housing, impairment of cognitive functioning, mental illness, widowhood, limited options for living arrangement and dependency towards end of life.OBJECTIVE:1. To assess the proportion of problems in elderly. 2. To determine the psychosocial distress among elderly using GHQ-30 Score. METHODS: A Community based cross sectional study conducted in Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) under Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) between August  2016 to October 2016. The study was conducted among 200 elderly people aged >60yrs as per inclusion criteria by convenient sampling. A semi structured questionnaire was used to calculate socio demographic details and psychosocial distress was assessed by using  General Health Questionnaire-30(GHQ-30). Descriptive statistics and chi square tests were used to analyze the data.  RESULTS: Mean age group of the study subjects was 67+1.24years (N=200) and 61% of them were Hindu by religion. Most common age related disease was Cataract (46%) and 28% of them had Diabetes Mellitus as their long term illness. Depression (28%) was the most common psychological problems. There was a statistically significant association (p=<0.005) between female gender and psychosocial problems, Loss of spouse and psychosocial problems, Age and aging problems.