Prevalence of selected chronic disease and health-seeking behavior among elderly persons in an urban underprivileged area, Bengaluru city, India
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2018, Vol 7, Issue 4
Abstract
Background: The share of the elderly in the Indian population is rising. Side-by-side, the country is witness to rapid urbanization, with large numbers of city dwellers living in underprivileged areas. Studying the burden of chronic disease among the urban underprivileged elderly and their health-seeking behavior will provide useful information to guide urban health policy. Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of selected chronic disease among elderly persons and assess their health-seeking behavior and factors associated. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done among 265 elderly persons, selected by systematic random sampling in LR Nagar, an urban underprivileged area in Bengaluru city in the period June 2013–May 2014. Elderly persons who were recruited were administered a questionnaire (to assess the presence of known chronic disease and health-seeking behavior) followed by physical examination, glucometry, and sphygmomanometry. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 67.5%, of whom 38.4% were newly detected. 47.5% of the study group were detected with musculoskeletal disorders and 30.5% with cataract. Diabetes mellitus was present in 18.5% of the study population, of whom 3.8% were newly detected. 95.6% of subjects sought treatment when they fell ill, the majority of them (78.7%) from private clinics. The healthcare expenditure incurred by the subjects was met by their sons in the majority of the subjects (55.1%). Conclusion: Designing new models in the public sector for addressing the health problems of the urban underprivileged elderly are required, with emphasis on chronic illness.
Authors and Affiliations
Rock Britto Dharmaraj, Arvind Kasthuri, Pretesh Kiran
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP460265
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2018.1232501022018
- Views 94
- Downloads 0
Initial default among tuberculosis patients diagnosed in selected medical colleges of Puducherry: issues and possible interventions
Background: India accounts for one-fourth of the global incident tuberculosis (TB) case load and tops the list of high- burden countries. Initial default and loss to follow-up are important challenges in achieving the...
Effectiveness of labor support measures on the pain perception of mothers in labor
Background: Childbirth is an anxiety-producing situation for many women and pain is a major concern during labor. Comfort measures help the women to cope with the pain and were considered essential.The term “labor suppor...
Cardiovascular disease determinants: burden and knowledge among women in a rural community of Delhi
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are becoming major health burden in developing countries such as India. Rural women are reported to have high CVD-related mortality rates and are less likely to receive approp...
Knowledge and practices regarding breastfeeding: A community-based cross-sectional study in a rural area of Northwest India
Background: Breastfeeding (BF) practices remain the cornerstone to reduce infant and child morbidity and mortality. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices regarding BF among mothers of...
A study of etiological factors, management, and complications of atrophic rhinitis
Background: Atrophic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic nasal disease that is characterized by progressive atrophy of the nasal mucosa and underlying bone of the turbinates. The etiological factors blamed for its genesis are...