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Conceptualization of depression amongst older adults in rural Tanzania: a qualitative study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2019

Kate Howorth ,
Stella-Maria Paddick ,
Jane Rogathi ,
Richard Walker ,
William Gray ,
Lloyd L. Oates ,
Damas Andrea ,
Ssenku Safic ,
Sarah Urasa  and
Irene Haule
...Show all authors
Kate Howorth*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK
Stella-Maria Paddick
Affiliation:
Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Jane Rogathi
Affiliation:
Community Health Department, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Richard Walker
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
William Gray
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK
Lloyd L. Oates
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK
Damas Andrea
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ssenku Safic
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Mount Meru Regional Hospital, Arusha, Tanzania
Sarah Urasa
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Irene Haule
Affiliation:
District Medical Office, Hai District Hospital, Bomangombe, Hai, Tanzania
Catherine Dotchin
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, UK Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Kate Howorth, Education Centre, North Tyneside General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH, UK. Phone: 0344 811 8111; Fax: +44191 293 4149. Email: katehoworth@hotmail.co.uk
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Abstract

Background:

Depression in older people is likely to become a growing global health problem with aging populations. Significant cultural variation exists in beliefs about depression (terminology, symptomatology, and treatments) but data from sub-Saharan Africa are minimal. Low-resource interventions for depression have been effective in low-income settings but cannot be utilized without accurate diagnosis. This study aimed to achieve a shared understanding of depression in Tanzania in older people.

Methods:

Using a qualitative design, focus groups were conducted with participants aged 60 and over. Participants from rural villages of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, were selected via randomized sampling using census data. Topic guides were developed including locally developed case vignettes. Transcripts were translated into English from Swahili and thematic analysis conducted.

Findings:

Ten focus groups were held with 81 participants. Three main themes were developed: a) conceptualization of depression by older people and differentiation from other related conditions (“too many thoughts,” cognitive symptoms, affective and biological symptoms, wish to die, somatic symptoms, and its difference to other concepts); b) the causes of depression (inability to work, loss of physical strength and independence, lack of resources, family difficulties, chronic disease); c) management of depression (love and comfort, advice, spiritual support, providing help, medical help).

Conclusions:

This research expands our understanding of how depression presents in older Tanzanians and provides information about lay beliefs regarding causes and management options. This may allow development of culturally specific screening tools for depression that, in turn, increase diagnosis rates, support accurate diagnosis, improve service use, and reduce stigma.

Keywords

depressionqualitative researchdeveloping countrypsychogeriatrics
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 31 , Issue 10: Issue Theme: Dementia and the Society , October 2019 , pp. 1473 - 1481
Copyright
© International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

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