Factors associated with depression among the community-dwelling elderly In Kudat, Malaysia.

INTRODUCTION

The burden of elderly depression is rising with the growing ageing population, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. In Malaysia, 27.8% of the elderly experience depression, with 16.5% of depressive symptoms reported among community-dwelling older adults. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the elderly in Kudat, a rural area in Sabah.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Malay version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (M-GDS-14). Logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the relationships between elderly depression and sociodemographic, socioeconomic, physical health, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

A total of 310 participants were involved, with a mean age of 69.4 years. Most were of Rungus ethnicity (78.7%) and married (73.9%). About 72% had a household income below RM 1,000; half were retirees, while 43.2% were still working. The prevalence of depression was high at 73.2% (95% CI: 70.7, 75.7). Comorbidities and moderate-topoor self-rated health were significantly associated with higher odds of depression, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.99 and 2.09, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the high level of depression among the elderly in Kudat and the significant association with comorbidities and self-rated health status. Public health programs should focus on managing comorbidities and promoting positive self-perceived health to reduce depression in this population.