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HEALTH STATUS OF HOSPITALISED ELDERLY IN MOROGORO REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Abstract
Objective: To assess the elderly's nutritional status, major health and socio-economic
problems.
Design: A cross- sectional, descriptive study.
Seaing: Hospitalised care, in Morogoro General Hospital, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Subjects: One hundred and twenty one elderly patients admitted in the hospital for various
health problems between November 1998 and March 1999.
Results: Body Mass Index (BMI) ratios indicated that 26% of the subjects were suffering
from Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) of varying grades. Fourteen percent had CED grade
I, 10% CED grade I1 and two per cent had CED grade 111. The study ranked cardiovascular
disorders and respiratory tract diseases the most prevalent diseases (30% and 28%
respectively). These were followed by malaria (15%). Cardiovascular diseases were more
prevalent among women than men while the respiratory diseases were opposite. The general
tradition that African elderly people do live with and are taken care by their children seems
to hold no longer, as the majority of the subjects (80%) either live alone or with their spouses
only, while 14% lived with their relatives (including their children). The majority of the
elderly did not have any regular income, and they depended on other people for their living.
Conclusion: As Tanzania undergoes demographic and economic transformations, the
elderly are increasing while their welfare decreases. This has more effects on their health
status. Old tradition of children living with their elderly is declining due to urbanisation,
rural urban migration and the trend towards nuclear families. The government is urged to
establish specific systems of taking care of this vulnerable group.
problems.
Design: A cross- sectional, descriptive study.
Seaing: Hospitalised care, in Morogoro General Hospital, Morogoro, Tanzania.
Subjects: One hundred and twenty one elderly patients admitted in the hospital for various
health problems between November 1998 and March 1999.
Results: Body Mass Index (BMI) ratios indicated that 26% of the subjects were suffering
from Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) of varying grades. Fourteen percent had CED grade
I, 10% CED grade I1 and two per cent had CED grade 111. The study ranked cardiovascular
disorders and respiratory tract diseases the most prevalent diseases (30% and 28%
respectively). These were followed by malaria (15%). Cardiovascular diseases were more
prevalent among women than men while the respiratory diseases were opposite. The general
tradition that African elderly people do live with and are taken care by their children seems
to hold no longer, as the majority of the subjects (80%) either live alone or with their spouses
only, while 14% lived with their relatives (including their children). The majority of the
elderly did not have any regular income, and they depended on other people for their living.
Conclusion: As Tanzania undergoes demographic and economic transformations, the
elderly are increasing while their welfare decreases. This has more effects on their health
status. Old tradition of children living with their elderly is declining due to urbanisation,
rural urban migration and the trend towards nuclear families. The government is urged to
establish specific systems of taking care of this vulnerable group.
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