Open Access
Subscription or Fee Access
HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF THE ELDERLY PERSONS IN DAGORETTI DIVISION, NAIROBI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the health status and the health seeking behaviour of the elderly
people aged 65 years and above.
Design: A descriptive cross sectional study of individuals interviewed through
questionnaires and focus groups discussions.
Setting: Dagoretti Division, Nairobi Province, Kenya.
Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons.
Results: Four hundred people including 276(69%) women and 124(31%) males were
interviewed; 44% had no independent source of livelihood and 51% were widowed. The
majority 376(92.5%) of the respondents had been sick within the last three months,
preceding the study with 111(27.8%) being sick all the time. The prevalent diseases
included musculoskeletal (80%), respiratory (68%), sight (44%) and dental
conditions(40%). Three hundred and sixteen (79%) of the respondents were functionally
independent in activities of daily living. One hundred and sixty one (40.3%) were satisfied
with their current way of life while (63%) perceived themselves as healthy, 24.8% of
the respondents lived alone. The reported social problems included:- economic dependency
(96%), poor housing (76%), loneliness (60%) and feeling not needed (42%) of the
respondents. Only 26% were on treatment, lack of money hindered health care access
to 73% of the respondents (p<0.001). Sixty two per cent of the respondents were buying
over-the-counter drugs. Walking was under taken by 217(67%) as a physical exercise,
and (26%) of the respondents consumed addictive drugs. The focus groups criticised
the lack of health facilities for the elderly in the community.
Conclusion: The effects of ageing, low economic status and inadequate access to health
care contributed to the elderly poor health status. The use of over-the-counter drugs
was indicative of the inefficient health facilities in meeting the health needs of the elderly.
The study points out the need to formulate policies that will target on the health needs
of the elderly.
Objective: To determine the health status and the health seeking behaviour of the elderly
people aged 65 years and above.
Design: A descriptive cross sectional study of individuals interviewed through
questionnaires and focus groups discussions.
Setting: Dagoretti Division, Nairobi Province, Kenya.
Subjects: Four hundred non-institutionalised elderly persons.
Results: Four hundred people including 276(69%) women and 124(31%) males were
interviewed; 44% had no independent source of livelihood and 51% were widowed. The
majority 376(92.5%) of the respondents had been sick within the last three months,
preceding the study with 111(27.8%) being sick all the time. The prevalent diseases
included musculoskeletal (80%), respiratory (68%), sight (44%) and dental
conditions(40%). Three hundred and sixteen (79%) of the respondents were functionally
independent in activities of daily living. One hundred and sixty one (40.3%) were satisfied
with their current way of life while (63%) perceived themselves as healthy, 24.8% of
the respondents lived alone. The reported social problems included:- economic dependency
(96%), poor housing (76%), loneliness (60%) and feeling not needed (42%) of the
respondents. Only 26% were on treatment, lack of money hindered health care access
to 73% of the respondents (p<0.001). Sixty two per cent of the respondents were buying
over-the-counter drugs. Walking was under taken by 217(67%) as a physical exercise,
and (26%) of the respondents consumed addictive drugs. The focus groups criticised
the lack of health facilities for the elderly in the community.
Conclusion: The effects of ageing, low economic status and inadequate access to health
care contributed to the elderly poor health status. The use of over-the-counter drugs
was indicative of the inefficient health facilities in meeting the health needs of the elderly.
The study points out the need to formulate policies that will target on the health needs
of the elderly.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
