Ethnic and Gender Disparities in Healthy Ageing among People 50 Years and Older in South Africa.

Supa Pengpid,Karl Peltzer

doi:10.3390/geriatrics6030079

Abstract

Objective: this study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of healthy ageing in older adults living in the community in South Africa. Methods: the cross-sectional sample consisted of 3734 individuals (≥50 years) from the cross-sectional South African National Health and Nutrition Survey (SANHANES-1) in 2011–2012. Healthy ageing was assessed using a multidimensional concept, which includes five components: (1) absence of major illness, (2) absence of disability, (3) good mental health, (4) social engagement and (5) well-being or good health. Results: in general, 36.6% had a healthy ageing, including 73.3% had no major diseases, 87.1% were free of disability, 62.3% had good mental health, 73.0% were socially engaged and 64.0% had a high well-being. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, male sex (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 1.33, 95% confidence interval-CI: 1.03–1.72), white population group (AOR: 3.46, 95% CI: 2.29–5.22) and coloured population group (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.34–2.47), were positively associated with healthy ageing, while increasing age (AOR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.97), daily tobacco use (AOR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.42–0.74), perceived underweight (AOR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.34–0.66) and perceived overweight (AOR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.34–0.81) were negatively associated with associated with healthy ageing. Conclusion: almost two in five older adults in South Africa were successfully ageing. Factors associated with healthy ageing included, younger age, male sex, population group (Whites, Coloureds), not daily tobacco users, not having underweight and overweight.

Highlights

In most African societies, due to rapid ageing, urbanization, changes in socioeconomic and cultural patterns and weakening of kinship support, older adults may receive less support and respect, becoming increasingly a burden on families and dependents, and healthy ageing becomes critical [1]
36.6% had healthy ageing (HA), including, 73.3% had no major diseases, 87.1% were free from disability, 62.3% had good mental health, 73.0% were socially engaged and 64.0% had high well-being
Comparing the assessment of HA with multidimensional concept of healthy ageing (MMHA) and biomedical model of healthy ageing (BMHA), this study found in contrast to previous research [8,9] that the rates of BMHA were higher than

Summary

Introduction

In most African societies, due to rapid ageing, urbanization, changes in socioeconomic and cultural patterns and weakening of kinship support, older adults may receive less support and respect, becoming increasingly a burden on families and dependents, and healthy ageing becomes critical [1]. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) [3], healthy ageing is “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing”. Optimizing functional ability (“ability to meet one’s basic needs; ability to learn, grow and make decisions; mobility; ability to build and maintain relationships; and ability to contribute”) is a key to healthy ageing. Studies on healthy ageing among older adults have been conducted largely in highincome countries. One means to be used for evaluating the health status of older adults in South Africa is by assessing and monitoring healthy ageing (HA).

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Discussion

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