ISPUB.COM The Internet Journal of Public Health Volume 1 Number 2 1 of 10 Depression Among The Elderly Malays Living In Rural Malaysia A Rashid, A Manan, S Rohana Citation A Rashid, A Manan, S Rohana. Depression Among The Elderly Malays Living In Rural Malaysia. The Internet Journal of Public Health. 2010 Volume 1 Number 2. Abstract Introduction: Most countries including Malaysia are facing an ageing population phenomenon and depression is a common psychiatric problem among the elderly. Aim: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of depression among the elderly Malays living in rural Malaysia. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among the elderly population in 24 villages in north Malaysia. Geriatric Depression Scale was used to screen for depression among the participants. Analysis was done using SPSS version 13 Results: The prevalence of depression was 30.1%. Being unmarried (OR 2.06), unemployed (OR 1.81), earning less than RM 600 (OR 2.16) and living alone (OR 2.32) were significantly associated with the risk of being depressed. Being unemployed (1.82) and earning less than RM 600 (OR 1.79) were significant predictive variables. Conclusion: Employment opportunities which can provide reasonable income are important for the elderly. INTRODUCTION Countries across the world are experiencing an ageing population phenomenon. It is projected that the population of older adults in the world will rise by 21% in the next 50 years and by the year 2050 there will be an expected quadruple increase in the elderly population to almost two billion in the developing countries [1]. The population of Malaysia is 25 million and is made up of several ethnic groups, comprising mostly of Malays and other indigenous groups followed by the Chinese, Indian and non Malaysian citizens who mainly comprise of immigrant labourers [2]. In the past two decades there has been a change in the demographic profile of Malaysia’s population. It is estimated that by the year 2020, almost 10% of Malaysia’s population will be 60 years and above. This is due to improved health, longer life expectancy, low mortality as well as declining fertility [3] Although mental health is important to the elderly, only a fraction of those who need mental health care receive it [4]. By one estimate only about 10% of older adults who are in need of psychiatric treatment ever receive this service [5]. Depression in a broad sense can describe a syndrome that includes a constellation of physiological, affective and cognitive manifestations. Depression causes functional impairment and imposes an immense burden on individuals, communities and heath services. Depression may range in severity from mild symptoms to more severe forms that include delusional thinking, excessive somatic concern and suicidal ideation over long periods of time [5]. Depression is insidious that neither the victim nor the caregiver may recognize its symptoms. Depressed mood, the typical signature of depression, may be less prominent in older adults than the depressive symptoms such as loss of appetite, sleeplessness, anergia and loss of interest and enjoyment for the normal pursuits of life [5]. Depression in the elderly is commonly misdiagnosed and under treated. The untreated depressed elderly have significant clinical and social implications as these disorders decrease the individual’s quality of life and increase dependence on others. Prevalence of depression in the Asia- Pacific region is comparable to that of the Western world [6]. The prevalence of depression in central Malaysia has been shown to range from almost 8% in rural communities [7] to 6% in urban communities [8]. The population of the elderly is the highest in northwest Malaysia. Here the prevalence of depression has been reported as high as 48.8% in the community [9] and 67% in an elderly care institution [10]. Geriatrics and psycho geriatrics are emerging specialties in Malaysia, and so to date there has been relatively little research in these areas. However there is evidence from