Prevalence and Predictors of Unmet Needs among the Elderly Residents of the Rural Field Practice Area of a Tertiary Care Centre from Northern India
- Author:
Abhishek Singh
;
Mohan Bairwa
;
Shewtank Goel
;
Ravi Bypareddy
;
Prassana Mithra
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Prevalence;
predictors;
unmet needs;
elderly;
rural;
Geriatric;
unmet needs;
elderly;
rural India
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2016;23(5):44-50
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: Surrogate markers simple enough to be used by primary care workers
have not been closely investigated by the community experts in rural Uttar Pradesh. We assessed
the physical disabilities in activities of daily living (ADL) and unmet need in physical disabilities
among rural elderly. Predictors of unmet needs in physical disabilities among the elderly were
also identified.
Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly
residents of the rural field practice area of a tertiary care centre in rural Uttar Pradesh. Three
hundred and thirty five (335) participants aged 60 years and above from 9 villages were selected
using the Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling technique. Study tools were the
proforma regarding socio-demographic details, socio-economic status and Stanford Health
Assessment Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify
predictors of unmet needs.
Results: 185 (55.2%) had physical disability in one or more activity limitation. Gender
wise elderly females had more physical disability in one or more ADL categories than elderly
males (66.8% vs. 42.0%). Almost one third (32.5%) of subjects had unmet need for one or more
physical disabilities. the predictors of unmet needs that were identified in the study were female
gender (P = 0.046), elderly aged 70 years and above (P = 0.032), those living alone (P = 0.035),
low monthly family income (P = 0.044), financially fully dependent elderly (P = 0.0002), and
those having 3 or more physical disabilities (P = 0.033).
Conclusions: The findings of the study highlight that large number of needs of the
disabled are still unmet. Greater, targeted efforts are needed to identify at-risk elderly people
living in the community. These predictors would act as surrogate markers and can be easily used
by primary care workers to plan and provide services to the elderly people in rural communities.
- Full text:W020161009647500987742.pdf
