Resumen

BAYARRE VEA, Héctor et al. Prevalence of mental disability in the elderly from Granma province. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2007, vol.23, n.2. ISSN 0864-2125.

Mental disabilities, closely related to the increase of life expectancy, are considered among the most severe problems to be faced at present. In order to estimate the prevalence of mental disablitiy of the elderly from Granma province, in 2004, a descriptive study was conducted. 688 aged persons were selected by multiphasic stratified sampling. The information was collected by Mini Mental State Examination. The processing of information include the point estimation and the estimation by intervals and percentages. It was found a mental disability of 21.5 %. Memory, calculation, and attention were the main mental processes affected. The increase of age, the female sex, iliteracy and unemployment were the prevailing factors

Palabras clave : Mental disorders; geriatrics; prevalence.