Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Sudan's ageing population is growing rapidly, yet research on the psychological health and depression mainly among the elderly is limited. Ageing research is urgently needed to offer critical data for policy formation and program implementation. This study was aimed...

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Main Authors: Aamir Ahmed, Sahar Hamid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Health Science Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70589
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author Aamir Ahmed
Sahar Hamid
author_facet Aamir Ahmed
Sahar Hamid
author_sort Aamir Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background and Aims Sudan's ageing population is growing rapidly, yet research on the psychological health and depression mainly among the elderly is limited. Ageing research is urgently needed to offer critical data for policy formation and program implementation. This study was aimed to address the prevalence and associated factors of depression among older people in Gezira state, Sudan. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted to collect data from older adults at the household level in Gezira State between January and December 2021. The 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale‐15 was utilized to facilitate face‐to‐face interviews with a sample of 1068 participants. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including the Chi‐square test and logistic regression analysis, were employed to analyze the data. Results A total of 1068 elderly individuals participated in the study, with a depression prevalence rate of 44%. Several factors were found to be significantly associated with depression, including illiteracy (OR = 1.411, 95% CI [1.030–1.933]), being unmarried (OR = 1.500, 95% CI [1.071–2.099]), having diabetes (OR = 1.489, 95% CI [1.102–1.940]), and heart disease (OR = 1.902, 95% CI [1.001–3.614]). Additional factors included disability (OR = 2.360, 95% CI [1.683–3.310]), poor self‐rated health (OR = 1.900, 95% CI [1.426–2.533]), lack of regular contact with relatives (OR = 1.595, 95% CI [1.073–2.371]), and consuming fewer than three meals per day (OR = 2.882, 95% CI [0.942–8.818]). Conclusion The findings of this study contribute valuable new data to the field of geriatric health, particularly in the area of psychological well‐being. Building upon previous research, the results of the current study can inform the development of strategies aimed at mitigating depression among the elderly population in Sudan.
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spelling doaj-art-723fa98c2aa64014b8e7ccea1a7694e82025-08-20T01:50:26ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-03-0183n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70589Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional StudyAamir Ahmed0Sahar Hamid1Department of Applied Statistics and Demography Faculty of Economic and Rural Development, University of Gezira Wad Madani SudanDepartment of Psychology Faculty of Education, University of Gezira Wad Madani SudanABSTRACT Background and Aims Sudan's ageing population is growing rapidly, yet research on the psychological health and depression mainly among the elderly is limited. Ageing research is urgently needed to offer critical data for policy formation and program implementation. This study was aimed to address the prevalence and associated factors of depression among older people in Gezira state, Sudan. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted to collect data from older adults at the household level in Gezira State between January and December 2021. The 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale‐15 was utilized to facilitate face‐to‐face interviews with a sample of 1068 participants. Both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including the Chi‐square test and logistic regression analysis, were employed to analyze the data. Results A total of 1068 elderly individuals participated in the study, with a depression prevalence rate of 44%. Several factors were found to be significantly associated with depression, including illiteracy (OR = 1.411, 95% CI [1.030–1.933]), being unmarried (OR = 1.500, 95% CI [1.071–2.099]), having diabetes (OR = 1.489, 95% CI [1.102–1.940]), and heart disease (OR = 1.902, 95% CI [1.001–3.614]). Additional factors included disability (OR = 2.360, 95% CI [1.683–3.310]), poor self‐rated health (OR = 1.900, 95% CI [1.426–2.533]), lack of regular contact with relatives (OR = 1.595, 95% CI [1.073–2.371]), and consuming fewer than three meals per day (OR = 2.882, 95% CI [0.942–8.818]). Conclusion The findings of this study contribute valuable new data to the field of geriatric health, particularly in the area of psychological well‐being. Building upon previous research, the results of the current study can inform the development of strategies aimed at mitigating depression among the elderly population in Sudan.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70589depressionelderlyprevalenceSudan
spellingShingle Aamir Ahmed
Sahar Hamid
Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
Health Science Reports
depression
elderly
prevalence
Sudan
title Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
title_full Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
title_fullStr Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
title_short Prevalence of Depression and Associated Factors Among Older People in Gezira State, Sudan: A Cross Sectional Study
title_sort prevalence of depression and associated factors among older people in gezira state sudan a cross sectional study
topic depression
elderly
prevalence
Sudan
url https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70589
work_keys_str_mv AT aamirahmed prevalenceofdepressionandassociatedfactorsamongolderpeopleingezirastatesudanacrosssectionalstudy
AT saharhamid prevalenceofdepressionandassociatedfactorsamongolderpeopleingezirastatesudanacrosssectionalstudy