STUDY OF PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR DETERMINANTS OF FARMERS IN DROUGHT AFFECTED AREA OF MARATHWADA REGION OF MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
Soham S. Barkule and Dr. Smita P. Andurkar*
ABSTRACT
Background and objectives: Farmer’s stress and suicide is current burning issue not only in India but also in whole world. Almost 90% of persons who commit or attempt suicide has a diagnosable mental disorder. So the present study is carried out to study psychosocial problems and risk factors in farmers. Methods: The present community based cross sectional study is carried out in 8 villages of 4 different districts of Marathwada region with objectives of studying psychosocial problems and risk factors associate with them. With the help of predesigned questionnaire, we assessed socio-demographic data and by using GAD 07 & PHQ 9 scale we found out the anxiety and depression levels of farmers of that area. Results: 25.6% farmers were in age group of 41-50 yrs, 23.1% were illiterate. Farming was only occupation for 74.7 % of farmers. 81.6% farmers were having annual income below 1 lakh. 68.7 % farmers had institutional loan of more than 50 thousand. 31.1% farmers had non institutional loan more than 50 thousand. 42.2% farmers were suffering from moderate and 17.8% farmers from severe type of anxiety. 33.1% farmers had moderate depression while 19.6% and 9.1% farmers were suffering from moderately severe and severe type of depression respectively. Interpretation and Conclusion: that annual income of farmer and loan (both institutional and non institutional) significantly affect the mental state of farmers by increasing anxiety and depression.
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