Abstract
Objectives: To determine the health status and the factors affecting health seeking behavior of the senior citizens aged 60years and above. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study based on household survey was adapted. The sample consisted 400 senior citizens resident of Dharan. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study subject. Individuals were interviewed through selfdeveloped semi-structured pre-tested questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chisquire test) were used. Results: Among 400 respondents, the most frequently reported illness were hypertension(29.3%), diabetes mellitus(8.3%), arthritis/joint pain(24.8%), eye problems(19.0%), hearing problems(3.3%), oral health problems(17.5%), digestive system problems(17.8%), respiratory problems(11.0%), heart disease(3.8%), renal problem(5.3%), skin diseases(7.5%), tuberculosis(3.0%), liver disease(3.0%), mental illness(5.75%),fracture(1.0%), Gynecological problems(7.3%) and male genital (6.3%) problems were also noted. Faith healers were the first treatment choice (97.2%) irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. After that they visited BPKIHS (36.3%), private practitioner (26.3%), self-treatment (11.3%) and self-drug-use (6.8%). Half of the respondents utilized formal health institutions only in major chronic conditions. Poverty emerged as a major determinant of health seeking behavior and treatment was considered waste of money (indirect effect 64%) and lack of money (35 .5%) followed by poor attitude of health worker (41%) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v3i1.10055 Journal of Nobel Medical College Vol.3(1) 2014; 50-57
Highlights
Aging is a natural process.[1] with reduced ability to generate resources, the elderly lack basic needs that affect their health status and health seeking behavior
Poverty emerged as a major determinant of health seeking behavior and treatment was considered waste of money and lack of money (35 .5%) followed by poor attitude of health worker (41%)
Attribution of ill health to ageing, low economic status and negative attitude of health workers towards the care of the elderly are some of the factors associated with delay in seeking health care.[2]
Summary
Aging is a natural process.[1] with reduced ability to generate resources, the elderly lack basic needs that affect their health status and health seeking behavior. Attribution of ill health to ageing, low economic status and negative attitude of health workers towards the care of the elderly are some of the factors associated with delay in seeking health care.[2]. There has been a global rise in the population of elderly over past 20 years. Of their population above the age of 65 years. The most rapid increase is expected between the years 2010 and 2030, when the ‘baby boom’ generation reaches age 65. By 2030, there would be about 70 million elderly; they would represent 20% of the population.[3]
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