Prevalence of geriatric depression in a community sample in Ghana: Analysis of associated risk and protective factors.

BACKGROUND: Ageing comes with its own associated physical and psychosocial challenges. Depression is reported as one of the most prevalent psychopathology found among elderly people. However, there is dearth of literature in Ghana regarding mental health and its associated risk and protective factors among Ghanaians who are aged 65years and above. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression among the aged in Ghana.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was employed and a total of 262 elderly people (65+years) were sampled. The Geriatric Depression Scale, Brief COPE and demographic questionnaires were administered to the participants.

RESULTS: There was 37.8% prevalence of depression among the participants. Socio-demographic characteristics such as religion, living status and presence of chronic illness independently predicted depression among the participants. The use of religion, acceptance and active coping were the most commonly reported coping strategies among the participants while denial, behavioural disengagement and substance use were the least used coping strategies among the participants. The use of active coping predicted decreased depression levels whereas the use of behavioural disengagement and self-blame significantly predicted increased depression levels among the participants.

CONCLUSIONS: Depression is a major challenge among the aged in this study and therefore, mental health screening should form part of the routine health screening practices for the elderly. The findings call for interventions aimed at promoting healthy ageing among the elderly in Ghana.