Factors associated with self-rated health among elderly Palestinian women: an analysis of cross-sectional survey data

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-rated health (SRH) predicts mortality and social inequalities. Recently, life expectancy for women has increased as a part of the worldwide demographic transition. This study examines the determinants of self-rated health among older Palestinian women. MethodsThe Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics did a survey in 2010 that included a question about self-rated health for women aged 60 years and older. Answers were recorded within a quintile scale ranging from excellent to poor. In line with previous studies, we converted the scale into a dichotomous measure: good (“excellent”, “very good”, or “average”) or bad (“less than good” or “bad”). Bivariate analysis assessing the relationship between sociodemographic variables and self-rated health was completed using SPSS. Significant associations were included in a binary regression model to check for confounders. Findings1998 elderly women were surveyed. 1138 (57%) of the women rated their health as good and 860 (43%) as bad. Regression results showed that women aged 70 years and older were more likely to rate their health as bad (897 of 1991) than were women aged 60–69 years (1094 of 1991; odds ratio [OR] 1·587, 95% CI 1·300–1·938). Bad self-rated health was more likely among women whose education did not proceed beyond elementary school (1738 of 1991) than in those who proceeded beyond secondary education (76 of 1991; 0·317, 0·162–0·622) and those who reached but did not proceed beyond secondary education (177 of 1991; 0·499, 0·399–0·735). Women with at least one reported disease were more likely to have bad self-rated health (1511 of 1991) compared with women who had no diseases (480 of 1991, 2·763, 2·180–3·503). Women whose house conditions were described as “not comfortable” had an increased likelihood of bad self-rated health (292 of 1991; 1·830, 1·402–2·390). Women in families with an income greater than the national average monthly income were less likely to have bad self-rated health (267 of 1991) than those in poorer households (630 of 1991; 0·629, 0·453–0·874). InterpretationThe results indicate that self-rated health is associated not only with increasing age, but also with elderly women's low socioeconomic status. The results indicate a need to improve the quality of life of older Palestinian women with collaboration of the health, social, and economic sectors, whereby the provision of health services is supported by concerted efforts to decrease poverty levels, and improve the living conditions of poor women. FundingNone.