Abstract
The COVID-19 is impacting the health of the population, including older persons. Available evidence shows that older people are highly vulnerable and more likely to have adverse health outcomes. In Bangladesh, the older population is rapidly increasing, living with various disadvantaged socio-economic conditions, including inadequate access and healthcare services. These disparities are likely to increase during the COVID-19, resulting in high morbidity and mortality among them. Thus, we have examined the health vulnerabilities of older persons due to the COVID-19 pandemic using content analysis. We have analyzed 102 content collected from various online and printed articles published in newspapers, journals, and other relevant sources. The study has found increased health risks, deteriorated mental health, and poor health system functioning during the pandemic and its impact on older persons in Bangladesh. Strengthening health systems through an integrated model with capacity development of existing health care providers to deal with elderly health problems, including mental health and psychosocial wellbeing; promoting preventive measures, facilitating access to healthcare is required. Bangladesh can learn the Chinese experience to adopt innovative, specialized, and advanced systems to efficiently fight against the COVID-19.
Highlights
In Bangladesh, the older population is rapidly increasing, living with various disadvantaged socio-economic conditions, including inadequate access and healthcare services
The fear of getting infected with the COVID-19 decreased the frequency of healthenhancing routine physical activities of older persons in Bangladesh
In the current COVID-19 pandemic period, the older persons were challenged with the risks of getting infected and death due to COVID-19, and the present context took a toll on their mental health too, which should be considered
Summary
In Bangladesh, the older population is rapidly increasing, living with various disadvantaged socio-economic conditions, including inadequate access and healthcare services. Though the concern is serious, geriatric mental health is given one of the lowest priorities (Alam et al, 2021) Inadequate management of these health problems increases the risks of disability and poor quality of life among the older population (Uddin et al, 2017). The country has adopted social distancing as one of the public health measures to reduce COVID-19 transmissions in the community Such measures could have adverse effects on the mental health of the population. Older persons experienced many struggles over testing for COVID-19 because of the lack of institutional and structural supports like lack of testing booths for older people, transportation difficulties, and mobility problems by within and outside the health systems (Islam et al, 2021a, 2021b). This study, along with the pre-existing and emerging new vulnerabilities, aims to track the impact of COVID-19 on older adults’ health issues and health services utilization in Bangladesh
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