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. 2018 Oct 18;18(1):338.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-018-1911-8.

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among older adults at ambo town, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Yohannes Mirkena  1 , Mebratu Mitiku Reta  2 , Kibrom Haile  3 , Zebiba Nassir  3 , Malede Mequanent Sisay  4
Affiliations

Prevalence of depression and associated factors among older adults at ambo town, Oromia region, Ethiopia

Yohannes Mirkena et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Depression is an important public health concern due to its devastating morbidity and mortality among older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among older adults (age ≥ 60 years) in Ambo Town, Ethiopia, 2016.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults in Ambo town from May to June 2016. Geriatric depression scale item 15 (GDS 15) was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with 800 study participants. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was used to calculate significance.

Results: The prevalence of depression was found to be 41.8% [CI = 38.5%, 45.5%]. The multivariable logistic regression model revealed that female sex (AOR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.66), trading (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI =1.32, 4.57), living with children (AOR = 3.19, 95% CI =1.14, 8.93) and retirement (AOR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.11, 7.35) were associated with depression among older adults.

Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among older adult was found to be high. Due emphasis needs to be given to screening and treating depression, especially among older females, retired individuals, adults living with children and merchants.

Keywords: Depression; Ethiopia; Older adults; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital and the University of Gondar Institutional Review Board following the Ethiopian National Research Ethics Review Guideline of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. A permission letter was obtained from the Oromia Regional Health Bureau and Ambo Administrative Offices. Participants were fully informed about the purpose of the study ahead of the interview and informed verbal consent was obtained from them.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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