A Population-based Research On The Prevalence, Influencing Factors Of Mental Disorders And Relevant Mental Health Service Among The Elderly In A Rural Community Of Anhui Province

Background:Mental illnesses not only have much influence on quality of life of patients and their family members, also bring the serious burden to the society. The elderly is the high-risk group of mental disorders. While the aging society along with our country, mental health issues of the elderly arouse society's widespread interest day by day. In 2003, our work team used cluster random sampling method to research the conditions of mental health service for 1600 older populations in a rural community of Anhui Province (their ages are not less than 60 years old, and they live there for not less than 5 years). Our work team carried out return visit to the rural community in 2004 and 2008. The investigation showed that the populations were stable with small mobility and good compliance. Therefore, from December in 2009 to March in 2010, our work team carried out a population-based research on the prevalence, influencing factors of mental disorders and relevant mental health service among the elderly.Objectives:Through the cross-section survey of a rural community in Anhui Province, to find out the prevalence and the distribution characteristics of mental disorders about the populations; to discuss influencing factors of mental disorders of the populations; to find out the awareness rate of the populations about mental health knowledge; to initially find out the demand and utilization of mental health service about the populations;to collect the scientific basis for further discussing the prevention and control measures of mental disorders among the elderly; to lay the foundation for further research on demand, utilization and relevant policies of mental health service. Methods:We interviewed with Geriatric Mental State Schedule (GMS), health and risk factors record which was derived partly from Minimum Data Set (MDS) and the self-designed questionnaire of mental health service. Face-to-face interviews were carried out at home by a trained survey team. The data about GMS was entered into computers with its corresponding software, and the data about the other two questionnaires was entered into computers by epidata 3.10. All data was analyzed by descriptive statistics,χ2 test or fisher test, and single or multi factor logistic regression model respectively with spss 11.0.Result and Conclusion:(1) 935 of the total 992 people were investigated, the reply rate is 94.3%.(2) The prevalence rate of mental disorders is 16.9% among the populations, and the masculine prevalence rate is 12.4%, the feminine prevalence rate is 20.6%.(3) The multi-factor logistic regression analysis demonstrates that: self-perceived poor health, self-perceived bad mind-set, less interests, suffering from angina pectoris, having stressful life events in the last two years such as someone intimate died or some unhappy things happened will increase the risk of mental disorders among the elderly. (4) The populations have a low awareness rate of mental health knowledge. (5) GMS-AGECAT has good reliability and validity for diagnosis of mental disorders among the elderly.Recommendation:(1) Various target-oriented intervening measures should be adopted. (2) Propaganda and education of mental health should be carried out. (3) The basic mental health service among the elderly in a rural community should be met. (4) Further research on demand, utilization and relevant policies of mental health service should be developed.