Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India
Abstract Changes in demography in developing countries haves led to new issues among older rural populations, such as self-neglect which is under researched.Self-neglect identified as poor self-care, unsafe living quarters, inadequate medical care and poor utilization of services increase the odds o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18029-4 |
| _version_ | 1827291285303590912 |
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| author | Vibisha Devaraj Anuradha Rose Vinod Joseph Abraham |
| author_facet | Vibisha Devaraj Anuradha Rose Vinod Joseph Abraham |
| author_sort | Vibisha Devaraj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Changes in demography in developing countries haves led to new issues among older rural populations, such as self-neglect which is under researched.Self-neglect identified as poor self-care, unsafe living quarters, inadequate medical care and poor utilization of services increase the odds of morbidity and mortality. Methods Our study was conducted in Kaniyambadi, a rural block in Vellore district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Ten villages were randomly selected. The study was conducted among people older than 60 years who were selected by random sampling using a computer-generated list. The following assessments were done: (i) A 19-item questionnaire was used to assess self-neglect, (ii) Katz index of daily living to assess functional activity, (iii) Mini Mental State Examination to evaluate cognition, (iv) Geriatric Depression Scale to identify depression, (v) Duke Social Support Index to measure social supports. Clinical data and anthropometric data were also collected. Data were entered into Epidata v3.1. All analyses were performed using SPSS v23.0. Results One hundred fourteen people above 60 years of age participated. The prevalence of self-neglect was 21.1% (95% CI 14.9%—29%); about half of the elderly population (47.38%) refused to seek or follow medical advice. Lower levels of education (OR 3.678, 95% CI 1.017 – 13.301), lower social class (OR 4.455, 95% CI 1.236 – 16.050) and functional impairment (3.643, 95% CI 1.373 – 9.668) were found to be significant factors associated with self–neglect. Though prevalence of comorbidities (70%) and depression (27%) were high, there was no statistical evidence of association with self-neglect. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:35:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b55c54623f4f49769ec20cf22cc9c7bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:35:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b55c54623f4f49769ec20cf22cc9c7bb2024-04-07T11:33:17ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-04-012411710.1186/s12889-024-18029-4Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South IndiaVibisha Devaraj0Anuradha Rose1Vinod Joseph Abraham2Christian Medical College VelloreChristian Medical College VelloreChristian Medical College VelloreAbstract Changes in demography in developing countries haves led to new issues among older rural populations, such as self-neglect which is under researched.Self-neglect identified as poor self-care, unsafe living quarters, inadequate medical care and poor utilization of services increase the odds of morbidity and mortality. Methods Our study was conducted in Kaniyambadi, a rural block in Vellore district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Ten villages were randomly selected. The study was conducted among people older than 60 years who were selected by random sampling using a computer-generated list. The following assessments were done: (i) A 19-item questionnaire was used to assess self-neglect, (ii) Katz index of daily living to assess functional activity, (iii) Mini Mental State Examination to evaluate cognition, (iv) Geriatric Depression Scale to identify depression, (v) Duke Social Support Index to measure social supports. Clinical data and anthropometric data were also collected. Data were entered into Epidata v3.1. All analyses were performed using SPSS v23.0. Results One hundred fourteen people above 60 years of age participated. The prevalence of self-neglect was 21.1% (95% CI 14.9%—29%); about half of the elderly population (47.38%) refused to seek or follow medical advice. Lower levels of education (OR 3.678, 95% CI 1.017 – 13.301), lower social class (OR 4.455, 95% CI 1.236 – 16.050) and functional impairment (3.643, 95% CI 1.373 – 9.668) were found to be significant factors associated with self–neglect. Though prevalence of comorbidities (70%) and depression (27%) were high, there was no statistical evidence of association with self-neglect.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18029-4AgedSelf-neglectDepressionIndiaSocial supportCognition |
| spellingShingle | Vibisha Devaraj Anuradha Rose Vinod Joseph Abraham Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India BMC Public Health Aged Self-neglect Depression India Social support Cognition |
| title | Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India |
| title_full | Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India |
| title_fullStr | Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India |
| title_short | Nature, prevalence, and risk factors for self-neglect among older people: a pilot study from Vellore, South India |
| title_sort | nature prevalence and risk factors for self neglect among older people a pilot study from vellore south india |
| topic | Aged Self-neglect Depression India Social support Cognition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18029-4 |
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