Variations in the Influence of Selected Socio-Economic and Demographic Risk Factors on the Onset of Mentally Disabled Elder Population in India

In the present era, mental disability is a major public health problem in the society. Many of the mental disabilities are curable if detected early. Social and economic status of mentally disabled person may depend on age onset. The data for this study has been taken from the survey of disabled persons in India conducted by the NSSO, 2002. In this paper we try to establish the relationship between cause of mental disability and age on onset and socio-economic status of elder mentally disabled persons in India with respect to age on onset. This study gives a comprehensive explanation of the multivariate technique called correspondence analysis, applied in the context of age on onset of mentally disabled older persons. Analysis shows that the nature of general education, cause of mental disability, marital status, living arrangement, treatment taken and usual activity status varies significantly with respect to age on onset of the mentally disabled elder persons. This study will provide one of the primary steps towards proper public health planning for elder section of mentally disabled persons in India.