National sample survey organization survey report: An estimation of prevalence of mental illness and its association with age in India

Background: The Indian population suffers with significant burden of mental illness. The prevalence rate and its association with age and other demographic indicators are needed for planning purpose. Objective: This study attempted to calculate age-wise prevalence of mental illness for rural and urb...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ram Lakhan, Olúgbémiga T. Ekúndayò
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice
Subjects:
age
Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0976-3147.143194
Description
Summary:Background: The Indian population suffers with significant burden of mental illness. The prevalence rate and its association with age and other demographic indicators are needed for planning purpose. Objective: This study attempted to calculate age-wise prevalence of mental illness for rural and urban settings, and its association with age. Materials and Methods: Data published in National Sample Survey Organization (2002) report on disability is used for the analysis. Spearman correlation for strength of association, z-test for difference in prevalence, and regression statistics for predicting the prevalence rate of mental illness are used. Result: Overall population have 14.9/1000 prevalence of mental illness. It is higher in rural setting 17.1/1000 than urban 12.7/1000 (P < 0.001). There is a strong correlation found with age in rural (ϱ = 0.910, P = 0.001) and urban (ϱ = 0.940, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study confirm other epidemiological research in India. Large-population epidemiological studies are recommended.
ISSN:0976-3147
0976-3155