WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Dr. Bashar Raouf Kareem Kamoona and Dr. Batool Ali Hasan

ABSTRACT

Introduction: For at least two weeks, depressed people experience feelings of melancholy, a loss of interest, feelings of guilt or low self-esteem, problems sleeping or eating, extreme fatigue, and trouble focusing. The aim of study is to assess the prevalence of depression in elderly individual in Al-Najaf city and factors association with depression. Patients and Method: Al Najaf province conducted a descriptive cross-sectional senior population study (60 years and older). Data was collected from December 1st, 2022, through March 1st of 2023. The brief version of the geriatric depression scale comprised 15 yes/no questions, and participants' depression levels were categorized as mild, moderate, or severe depending on their total score. Independent variables include gender, age, occupation, education, marital status, past medical, psychiatric, and drug histories, smoking, monthly income, resident status, and crowding. Sexes above 60 can apply. Not eligible are 60-year-olds who refuse to participate or are hospitalized. Results: Mean age of individuals 67 ± 6 years. Most elderly in age group 60-69 years (71.9%), females (59.8%) more than males (40.2%), most of them are non-employee and married (44.7%, 65.3%), 37.69% of elderly have severe depression while 33.17% of them have mild to moderate depression. As shown in fig 2, (43, 31) elderly persons have hypertension and diabetes Mellitus respectively, significant association between severe depression and age group 60-69 years old, also severe depression occurs more in non-employee, married and primary-secondary, education significant association between severe depression and living with family, also severe depression occurs more in elderly have chronic diseases and history of treatment intake, significant association between severe depression and monthly income less than 500.000 IQD and nonsmokers. Conclusion: In Al-Najaf, the elderly commonly experience depression, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes. Severe depression is more prevalent among those not in the workforce, married, with low education, low income, a history of chronic illness, and without smoking habits.

[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]