"A study to assess the level of knowledge regarding preventive measures of suicidal behaviour among elderly residing in selected old age home Belagavi."

INTRODUCTION

Suicide at any age is a tragedy for the individual, his or her family, friends and the community of which they are a part of. Suicide is the major problem in today's life in order to escape from the responsibilities. The elderly population has a significant risk of suicide when compared to other age groups. Older age groups are the age groups who needs more love, more care, and more attention. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. There is a growing recognition that prevention strategies need to be tailored to the region-specific demographics of a country and to be implemented in a culturally-sensitive manner.¹

Suicide is derived from the Latin word suicaedere which means to kill oneself. It is also known as acting of taking one's life.² Older age groups are the peoples who are facing a numerical physical, mental , social problems and these are the age groups who experiences loneliness, depression, etc in their in their life. It may be due to either avoidance from the family, any major health problems, or the people who may feel that no one is there to take care of them at their old age. This all thoughts lead them to commit suicide or stop their life.

In most countries throughout the world that report such statistics to the World Health Organization, suicide rates tend to rise as a function of age for both men and women to a peak in old, old age.³

Suicide is an important issue in the Indian context. More than one lakh lives are lost every year to suicide in our country. In the last two decades the suicidal rate has increased from 7.9 to 10.3per 100,000.

In 2011 statistical report stated that someone over the age of 65 commits suicide every 90 minutes (16 deaths per day). In 2013 it was reported that this statistic had doubled. Elders, account for one-fifth of all suicides, but it only represents 12% of the population.⁴

About 800,000 people commit suicide worldwide every year of these 135,000 (17%) are residents of India, a nation with 17.5%of world population. in 2012 Tamil Nadu (12.5%) and Maharashtra (11.9%)and west Bengal (11.0%) had the highest proportion of suicides among large population states. according to national crime bureau Karnataka places a scary fourth in the list of states with a high rate of suicide for the year 2014 being accountable for 10,945 or 8.3%of the total death due to suicide in the country.⁵

Almost six times the national average. The suicide rate among elders is two to three times higher than in younger age groups. Elder suicide may be under reported 40%or more. in recent years united states has exhibited that suicide rates peak at mid life for both men and women and decline slightly thereafter for overall population. Most of the suicidal attempts are taken place in the younger age groups and the older peoples.

HYPOTHESIS

H₀ : There will be no significant association between the knowledge scores of elderly with selected demographic variables.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The Descriptive approach was found to be suitable for the present study

POPULATION:

The population of this study was elderly people in Shantai old age home, Belagavi. Non random sampling procedure of convenient sampling technique was used to select the sample of elderly patients. The sample size for the present study consists of 50 old age people from Shantai old age home, Bamanwadi, Jamboti Road, Belagavi. The data collection was done on 12-03-2018. After getting permission from the Principal, Manager of the old age home.

RESULTS

Structured interview schedule to assess the knowledge regarding preventive measure of suicide. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Demographic variables of the Elderly people.

The demographic variable of age group majority 25(70%) of were in the age group of above 70 years, 15(30%) were in the age group of 65-70years, 10(20%) were in the age group of 60-65 years. Among 50 samples 35(70%) were females and 15(30%) were male.with the regard to type of family majority 29(58%) elderly were having nuclear family, 14(28%) elderly were having joint family, 7(14%) were having extended family. In a view to Marital Status the majority 26(52%) were widow, 14(28%) were married, 10(20%) were unmarried.

The above table reveals that in the test, 56% of the respondents possess average knowledge, 22% of the respondents possess poor knowledge and remaining 22% respondents possess good knowledge.

Findings related to association between the knowledge scores of Elderly with selected demographic variables.

There is no significant Association between the knowledge scores of elderly with selected demographic variables.

CONCLUSION

The present study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge regarding preventive measures of suicidal behavior among the elderly people residing in Shantai old age home, Belagavi, Karnataka.