Authors : Mohamed Tanveer Ahmed, Jyothi Jadhav, Navya Sri, Vishwanatha V Neela
DOI : 10.18231/j.jchm.2019.024
Volume : 6
Issue : 4
Year : 2019
Page No : 113-118
Context: Depression is considered to be the significant contributor to the global burden of disease and affects people in all communities across the world. A disorder of major public health importance which leads to decreased productivity and high suicide rates. Therefore, this study was done to know the factors contributing to depression especially among rural population.
Aim: To assess the socio-economic factors and their role in causing depression among rural population.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the rural population residing in the villages of Nelamangala taluk. Sample size was 570. Data was collected using pre-tested, semi-structured and self designed questionnaire. Level of depression was assessed using Centre for Epidemiological studies- Depression scale. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests.
Results: About 57.9% of the study participants were in the age group of 41-60 years. Majority were males. Almost 46.5% of the study subjects were illiterates. Most of them (47.9%) were from lower middle class family.
Conclusion: In this study, we found that various factors such as advancing age, illiteracy, low socio-economic status and marital status, presence of various co-morbid conditions and substance use had a significant association in causing depression.
Keywords: Socio-economic factors, Depression, Illiteracy, Co-morbid conditions.