Depression among Elderly in Yala City: a Case Study

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to study depression factors related to depression in elderly in Yala City, Southern Thailand. Sample consisted of 80 elderly patients who received services at the Pungmuang 4 primary care unit. Simple random sampling was used. Data collecting instrument was a questionnaire, including personal information and related factors (part 1) and Thai Geriatric Depression Scale, TGDS (part 2). Content validity of questionnaire was verified by three experts, yielding a value of 0.93. Statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Chi-square test.

The study indicated that depression in elderly was a normal level (77.5 percent), factors related to depression of elderly were statistically significant (0.05 level), including religion, person can talk about the nervousness, and family income. The factors that were negatively correlated with lower levels of depression in elderly include health status, physical ability (r=-.302, -.344, P<.01), and health behavior (r=-.204. P<.05). Factors that were positively correlated with lower levels of depression in elderly included age, and health problems (r= .299, .282, P<.01).

This health promotion project should be provided to elderly, as an opportunity for caregivers to socialize, perform a health check, provide general health care, and collect info on family and natural caregivers, as well as promoting health habits adapted to the elderly. Financial support from the government can help to reduce depression in the elderly.