A Community Based Cross Sectional Study to Assess the Health Care Seeking Behaviour among the Tribal Elders Residing in Selected Areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Abstract

Abstract Background: Population ageing is a great concern for the health sector. The health seeking behaviour of elderly individuals can help in ascertaining their needs and priorities to develop appropriate policies for their care and avert disease progression. Health seeking behaviour are influenced by a variety of factors among elderly like socio-economic status, age, gender, authority of the elderly within the family. Aim: To assess the health care seeking behaviour of the tribal elders in selected areas of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Methodology: A descriptive survey design was used to collect data with structured interview method from 100 tribal elders which were selected from non -probability purposive sampling technique. Result: Health seeking behaviour are influenced by a variety of factors among elderly like age, education, occupation, family monthly income, types of family, marital status and living with. Majority of the study subjects,59.62 % of males &75 % of females were found to be having adequate level of health care seeking behaviour,40.38% of males & 25% of females having high level of health care seeking behaviour. Conclusion: Health care seeking behaviour among tribal elderly is adequate level which need an awareness creation among the elderly population is imperative and creating easy accessibility of health services. It needs implementation of programme at grass root level. Key words: Ageing, Elderly, Health care seeking behaviour