Medical and Psychosocial Profile of Geriatric Population in Field Practice Area of Nanded, India

Autor: M G Narkhede, Doibale Mohan K, Mohammed Ubaidulla, Aswar Nandkeshav R, I F Inamdar
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences. 13:29-33
ISSN: 2279-0853
2279-0861
Popis: BACKGROUND: Geriatric health problems are emerging as a major public health concern. Change in socio-economic profile and various health problems adversely affect an individual's way of life during old age. The number of persons above the age of 60 years is fast growing, especially in India. India as the second most populous country in the world has 76.6 million people at or over the age of 60, constituting above 7.7% of total population. The relatively faster increase in the elderly population will contribute to a morbidity and higher dependency ratio of the population in the non-productive age group. OBJECTIVES: To study the medical and psychosocial problems among geriatric population. METHODOLOGY: The present cross sectional study was conducted at urban health training centre, Shivaji nagar, Nanded, catering health care services to around 59586 populations of all ages. A multi diagnostic camp based approach was used to study the health status of the geriatrics. Study of medical and psychosocial problems among population aged 60yrs and above was carried out using pre designed pre tested questionnaire. RESULTS: In the present study, 354 subjects above 60 years were studied. There were 198 males and 156 females. Around 73% of the patients belonged to the age group of 60-69 years. 74% respondents were illiterate. The morbidity pattern showed that hypertension was seen in 43%. 27% were suffering from COPD. 2% were suffering from Tuberculosis. Osteoarthritis was seen in 28% subjects. 62% of the study subjects were suffering from senile cataract. 78.55% subjects were suffering from emotional problems. 40.90% males were smokers and 38.50% of the males were consuming alcohol. 34.84% of the males and 42.30% females were addicted to tobacco chewing. The health facility used by the study subjects was mainly the Urban Health Training centre (87%) followed by private practitioners (13%). 44.9% were having sad attitude towards their lives. 2% were related to social organization. 52% subjects have good familial relationship. 58% have impaired hearing, amongst them 1% used hearing aids. 32% were irritated easily. 68% had disturbed sleep pattern. 9%people feel confident in crisis .Conclusions: The financial and social needs of the elderly should be fulfilled by preserving traditional joint family system. Senile cataract was the commonest illness followed by HTN. Addictions such as alcohol and smoking were common especially among males whereas tobacco chewing was common among females. Special geriatric services should be started in the hospitals as the majority of the aged have one or more health-related problems. The aged persons should be involved in social activities to avoid loneliness among them.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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