Elderly Population In Rural Area Research Articles

Change in Health-seeking Behaviour among Elderly during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Areas of Central Kerala: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the elderly population, leading to both fatalities from the virus and delayed treatment of acute emergencies. Additionally, many elderly individuals have demonstrated poor health-seeking behaviour in managing chronic conditions. Reasons for this include fear, access barriers, and strain on healthcare resources and personnel. Aim: To evaluate the change in health-seeking behaviour among the elderly in rural areas of central Kerala during the pandemic and identify the associated factors. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field-practice areas of the Department of Community Medicine at a tertiary care Medical College in Kerala, India from May 2021 to August 2021. A total of 252 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above were interviewed using a structured pretested questionnaire. Socio-demographic details and responses on health-seeking behaviour during the pandemic were documented. Data were summarised using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables or mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. Associations were tested using the Chi-square test. Results: The study revealed that 83.73% (211 out of 252) of the elderly participants had Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), with hypertension in 130 (51.59%) and diabetes in 90 (35.71%) being the most prevalent. A significant change in the preference for healthcare facilities was noted (p<0.001), with a decline in appropriate health-seeking behaviour by 16.16%. Moreover, 9.13% (23 participants) resorted to self-treatment at home, and 49.21% (124 participants) opted for traditional remedies to boost their immunity. The type of family was significantly associated with the decline in health-seeking behaviour (p<0.05). Of the 16 participants who indicated a lapse in their regular follow-up since the onset of the pandemic, the primary reasons for missing appointments were fear of contracting COVID-19 in 14 cases (87.50%), lockdown restrictions in six cases (37.50%), and transportation challenges in three cases (18.75%). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) among the elderly. There was a decline in health-seeking behaviour by 16.16% among the elderly with chronic diseases due to various challenges posed by the pandemic. Implementing strategies such as utilising social media, promoting telemedicine, and adopting a comprehensive technological approach is crucial to enhance healthcare accessibility for elderly populations in rural areas.

How Does the Ageing Population Affect China’s Household Savings Rate? Empirical Study Based on China’s Micro Household Data

The impact of the ageing population on China’s economy and society is multifaceted, with the impact on household savings rates being particularly important. This study investigates the influence of population ageing on household savings rates, utilizing data obtained from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) spanning the period from 2015 to 2019. The study found that ageing has a significant negative effect on household savings rates. This finding suggests that there is a significant life-cycle effect on changes in household savings rates in China, which is not conducive to the formation of a second demographic dividend. From the perspective of mediating variables, population ageing growth reduces household income, thereby further decreasing the household savings rate, with income reduction being the main factor causing the decline in the household savings rate. Additionally, it has been found that the impact of population ageing on the household savings rate exhibits significant heterogeneity between urban and rural areas. The increasing proportion of the elderly population in rural areas has a stronger negative effect on the household savings rate.

Male marriage squeeze and a sociodemographic portrait of involuntary bachelors in rural China

AbstractThis study uses, primarily, the 2020 National Population Census data to comprehensively examine the phenomenon of the “male marriage squeeze” and provide a socio-demographic portrait of involuntary bachelors in rural China. The descriptive findings make clear the pronounced male marriage squeeze in rural China. In 2020, China recorded its highest historical sex ratio of marriageable population, reaching 110. The age-specific proportions of never-married men surpass those of women, particularly in rural areas where a significant proportion of men remain unmarried throughout their lives. Between 2010 and 2020, men in rural areas exhibited a notable trend of delayed marriage. The likelihood of rural men getting married steadily declined during this decade, with rural men significantly less likely to get married than urban men. In China, the concentration of involuntary bachelors is mainly in rural areas, characterized by lower socioeconomic status, and inferior living conditions. While educational qualification among involuntary bachelors in rural areas has improved, it still lags behind that of currently or previously married men. Another problem is that the elderly population in rural areas faces resource scarcity, increasing the reliance on the minimum subsistence allowance. Elderly involuntary bachelors are generally in poorer health than their married peers, and the health disparity is widening. To make matters worse, a high percentage of these men live alone.

Assessment of common health problems and characteristics of health behaviour among elderly population in rural area of eastern India

Naturally, aging is an inevitable process, and as people grow older, various physiological and pathological effects manifest in the human body. Old age should be viewed as a completely normal and natural biological phenomenon. It is crucial to extensively study the patterns of morbidity, encompassing common health issues and health behaviors in the elderly population, in order to formulate effective preventive strategies that can enhance their quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess the sociodemographic profile and the prevalence of multiple health issues and health-related behaviors among the elderly population. Among the 124 participants in this study, 59.7% were female, and 40.3% were male. The average age of the elderly participants was 70.3 years, with a significant portion (45.2%) falling within the 60-69 age group. Our study revealed that arthritis was the most common health condition among the elderly, affecting 64.5% of the participants, followed by gastrointestinal diseases (48.3%) and cataracts (45%). Given the diverse physical health challenges faced by the elderly, it is imperative to strengthen geriatric healthcare services at all levels of the healthcare system. This will ensure the provision of comprehensive and tailored services to the vulnerable elderly population, ultimately improving their overall well-being and quality of life.

The Impact of Gender on the Happiness of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in Rural Areas of China: Based on the Empirical Analysis of CHARLS (2018) Data

The well-being of individuals is a crucial focal point and fundamental objective within the realm of social development. By examining a dataset comprising 16,593 micro-level records from the CHARLS database and employing the mesomeric effect model, the following conclusions are deduced: (1) The happiness levels of middle-aged and elderly women residing in rural regions of China are lower compared to men; (2) Gender exerts an influence on the happiness of middle-aged and elderly individuals in rural areas through mediating factors marital status and personal income; (3) Among the middle-aged and elderly population in rural areas of China, their level of education, perceived health status, number of family members, and frequency of contact with children can impact their overall sense of happiness.

Epidemiological and Clinical Features of Human Rabies in Dazu District, Chongqing, China from 2014 to 2021

The epidemiological and clinical data of human rabies cases in the Dazu District of Chongqing from 2014 to 2021 were analyzed retrospectively to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of human rabies cases in Chonqing, China. Nine cases were reported. All cases occurred in farmers from rural areas associated with lower rabies awareness, and eight cases had a definitive history of animal exposure, most commonly in the form of domestic dog bites. All nine patients presented as manic and died within 1–8 days from disease onset (mortality rate of 100%). Increased public awareness of rabies prevention and control is needed, especially among middle-aged and elderly populations in rural areas.

Blessing as a health resource: cross-sectional study with elderly residents of rural areas.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo estimate the prevalence and factors associated with the search for folk healers for the treatment of health problems among elderly living in the rural area of the city of Rio Grande-RS.METHODSCross-sectional, p opulation-based study with random sampling, carried out in 2017. The outcome was analyzed in three categories (never used/used in the last 12 months/used for more than 12 months). Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze theassociated factors.RESULTSA total of 1,030 elderly individuals were interviewed. The prevalence of demand for folk healers in the last 12 months and for more than 12 months was 9.5% and 15.8%, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, the characteristics associated with the use of a folk healer for more than 12 months were: being in the age group of 80 years or more and having back problems and arthrosis. Following the evangelical religion was identified as a protective factor for using this resource. On the other hand, the demand for blessing in the last year was related to the age group of 70–79 years, following spiritual religions, presence of disease in the last 12 months, back problems and arthrosis, and preference for the use of urgency and emergency services. Being female was associated only with the use for more than 12 months.CONCLUSIONThis study brings an original contribution to a topic poorly evaluated in epidemiological studies, because the knowledge of the frequency and determinants of the search for this type of popular therapy can be used to improve the quality and access to health services offered to the elderly population in rural areas.

Cognitive function and elderly macronutrient intakes from rural diets in Qingdao, China.

Energy provided by macronutrients plays a key role in healthy aging. This study therefore explored the association between macronutrients and cognitive function in elderly populations in rural areas of Qingdao, China. This study included 1,504 participants over the age of 65 recruited from Licha Town, Qingdao City, China. Dietary intake was measured using the Food Frequency Questionnaire, and cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between dietary macronutrient intake and cognitive function. In addition, restricted cubic bars were applied to determine the dose-response relationship between macronutrient ratios and cognitive performance. A total of 877 adults over the age of 65 were included. After adjusting the weighted multiple variables, significant positive associations were revealed between protein and moderate carbohydrate intake and cognitive ability, but a negative association between fat intake and cognitive performance was identified. After calculating the daily energy supply ratio, similar associations were revealed between fat and protein intake and cognitive function. Furthermore, the ratio of proteins to carbohydrates had a U-shaped relationship with cognitive function (pnonlinearity=0.674), whereas the ratio of proteins to fats was L-shaped with lower cognitive function (pnonlinearity<0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile of the ratio of protein to fat intake, the weighted adjusted OR (95% CI) of the highest quartile was 0.509 (0.314, 0.827) for low cognitive performance. With an adequate carbohydrate supply, appropriately increasing dietary protein intake and reducing fat intake might benefit the cognitive function of elders in rural areas.

Gaps in the Utilization of Community Health Services for the Elderly Population in Rural Areas of Mainland China: A Systematic Review Based on Cross-Sectional Investigations.

While the community health service system was initially established in rural areas of mainland China, the utilization of community health service resources by the rural elderly population is not clear. Cross-sectional studies on the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population in mainland China published within the last 10 years were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang, Medline and Web of Science (WOS) databases. The quality of the article was evaluated by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), and obstacles to the utilization of community health services by the rural elderly population were analyzed based on the Andersen model. Twenty-four studies were analyzed, and 3 gaps were found. (i) The cognition of rural elderly residents does not match the current health security system. (ii) There is a gap between the supply of health service resources in rural communities and the health needs of the elderly residents in these areas. (iii) The health services provided by rural primary health service institutions are not targeted. In mainland China, the provision of community health services to the rural elderly population has improved significantly. However, several factors from the individual level to the system level lead to low levels of access and utilization. This finding means that under the leadership of the government, it is necessary to integrate the strength of multiple departments to cooperate in improving the welfare system, policy publicity, health education, financial support, system guarantees and resource exchange and sharing for the elderly population in rural areas and to jointly promote community health services for the elderly population in rural areas.

Unmet health needs of elderly: a community based cross-sectional study in rural areas of Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu

Background: The proportion of elderly population is on the increasing trend in India. Morbidity was found higher among the elderly population. About 10% increased risk of mortality was found among elderly people with unmet needs. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity pattern and unmet health needs among elderly population in rural areas of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu.Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of 18 months in four selected villages in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, among 390 participants. EASY care standard (2010) questionnaire was used for assessment of health care needs. Frequency distribution of study variables and association using chi-square test were done using SPSS software version 23.Results: Out of 390 study participants, 51% were females. The most common morbidity was arthritis (40.5%), followed by diabetes and difficulty in hearing (29.5% each). Psycho-social issues such as loneliness (36.7%), little interest in doing things (30.8%), feeling hopelessness (30%) were noted among the study participants. The highest unmet health need was 11.8% for difficulty in hearing. The unmet health needs were associated with older age, widowhood, lower educational status, inability to work, low socio-economic status, absence of individual income, and absence of care taker of the study participants.Conclusions: The health needs of elderly are multi-faceted viz., medical, psycho-social, financial, etc. Since, family characteristics play a major role in meeting the health needs of elderly population, community-oriented services mainly involving family members will help for addressing the unmet needs of the elderly.

Morbidity pattern and health-seeking behavior among elderly population in rural area of district Barabanki: A cross-sectional study

Background: Aging is a universal and inevitable process of life. Elderly people are the most vulnerable group in terms of their health. In India geriatric-aged population is increasing day by day. Understanding the morbidities and health-seeking behavior of the elderly is essential for strengthening geriatric health-care services delivery. Objectives: The objectives of the study were (1) to assess the morbidity pattern in elderly people and (2) to know the health-seeking behavior of the aged population. Materials and Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted among 160 elderly individuals over a period of 3 months from February 2019 to April 2019. Participants were interviewed and clinically examined for the assessment of sociodemographic detail, morbidity profile, and health-seeking behavior. Results: Of 160 study subjects, 71 were males and 89 were females. The majority (61.3%) of the elderly were in the age group of 60–69 years. Overall the prevalence of morbidity was high, i.e., 76.9%. The most common illness was a nonspecific generalized weakness (48.1%) and gastrointestinal problems (44.4%). Majority of them (65.4%) have faith in allopathic medicines and used government facilities. Of the total morbid elderly, 15.5% of them could not get medical advice. Conclusions: High prevalence of morbidity among elderly population stresses the need to provide suitable health facilities and affordable health care to the elderly. Non-specific generalized weakness was one of the most important problems in this age group. Further research is to be done to know the cause of this weakness. Policymakers must focus on rural elderly and their beliefs which prevent them from seeking healthcare.

Epidemiology of injuries and its impact among elderly: a descriptive community based cross-sectional study from central rural India

Background: This study was to enlighten the prevalence, different types &amp; impact of injuries in elderly population in rural area of middle income country (India).Methods: It was a community based descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in all 24 villages under one Primary Health Centre of central India. The study was carried out from June 2009 to May 2011.Results: In the present study, prevalence of injury was 17.1%, which was highest among elderly ageing 65-69 years (36.8%) followed by elderly ageing 60-64 years (27.4%). Prevalence of injury was higher (20%) among males as compared to females (14%). Association of age, gender and injury was not statistically significant. Fall was the most common cause (34.7%) of injury followed by occupational (34.0%) and road traffic accidents (15.8%). Superficial injuries were the most common (32.6%) type of injuries followed by fracture (27.3%). Hospital admission required by 24.2% of elderly. We found 34.7% elderly was physically impaired and 26.3% physically disabled due to various injuries.Conclusions: In the present study we found injuries pose a major public health problem in elderly. Therefore there is a need of community based assessment on impact of injury among elderly in various parts of country to formulate appropriate health initiatives for prevention and optimum treatment of injuries in elderly.

Cataract and its associated risk factors among elderly population in a rural area of Belagavi: A cross sectional study

Background: The loss of sight of a person should not remain just a statistics but a personal tragedy, not only for the individual concerned, but for all of us who claim to be concerned. According to National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) Pilot Survey 2001-2002, the prevalence of cataract in + 50 - year population was 62.6%. To assess the impact of the NPCB on reduction of avoidable blindness, this study would help in enlightening the present scenario in this region. Material and Method: The present community based cross sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 60 years and above residing in the area covered under Vantamuri Primary Health Centre, Belagavi from 1st January to 31st December 2016. Data was collected from the study subject regarding socio-demographic variables and personal history, external eye examination was conducted Results: The prevalence of cataract among elderly population in rural area was 40.16%. Out of 249 participants who had cataract, 18 (7.23%) had it only in right eye, 19 (7.63%) had in left eye and 212 (85.14%) had cataract in both eyes. The risk factors for cataract included belonging to Muslim and Jain religion, lower literacy status and increased exposure to indoor air pollution. Conclusion: The present cross sectional study, reveals that the prevalence of cataract among elderly in rural area in the past 15 years has reduced by about 20%. But still some socio-cultural factors prevail among the rural population like ignorance towards the effects of morbidity was the major setback for seeking treatment. Such behaviour was more common in elderly female, who were the most affected by it.

Prevalence status and influencing factors of visual impairment in the elderly people in rural areas of Yugan County, Jiangxi Province

Objective: To assess the prevalence of visual impairment and the influencing factors among rural residents aged 60 years and above in Yugan county, Jiangxi province. Researchers analyzed influencing factors and provided scientific rationale for blindness prevention and control. Methods: Stratified cluster random sampling was used in randomly selecting 3 789 rural residents aged ≥ 60 in Yugan county. Eligible residents were invited to receive ophthalmic examinations and epidemiological investigations. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze any influencing factors. Results: Three thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine rural residents completed the ophthalmic examination and investigation. Based on presenting visual acuity, the prevalence of visual impairment was 24.1%(915), of which blindness and moderate and severe was 2.9%(108) and 21.3%(807). The top five causes ranked are (1) cataract (283, 30.9%), (2) Refractive error (81, 8.9%), (3) macular degeneration (29, 3.2%), (4) Corneal opacity (14, 1.5%). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, ophthalmic anamnesis, smoking situation, and daily fruit intake were the main factors that were the influencing factors of visual impairment. Conclusions: The prevalence of visual impairment in the elderly population in rural areas of Yugan County is quite high. Keep a healthy diet, timely correction of eye disease, could reduce the risk of visual impairment. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54:605-610).

Health status and healthcare service needs for the rural elderly population in Northern Jiangsu

Objective To study the health status, the current health service needs and the influencing factors concerning the rural elderly population in Northern Jiangsu. Methods Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling was conducted in elderly people over 60 in Xuzhou, Lianyungang, and Suqian.Participants were face-to-face interviewed with questionnaires.Information on health status and health service needs was collected and analyzed. Results A total of 2655 elderly people were enrolled in this study, including 1252 males(47.2%)and 1403(52.8%)females with a mean age of(70.9±6.7)years.Self-assessed health was generally poor, with the two-week morbidity at 26.6% and the prevalence of chronic diseases at 60.1%; 46.5% of the participants regularly took medications; 4.1% of them had physical disability; 8.2% had impaired daily activities; The two-week hospital visit rate was 29.4%; The one-year hospitalization rate was 18.5%; The rate of non-hospitalization for people in need of hospitalization was 27.6%.Multivariate analysis showed that old age(OR=5.51), adequate income(OR=2.29)and short journey to a medical institution(OR=7.90)were associated with high two-week hospital visit rates; old age(OR=1.76), female gender(OR=1.36), empty-nest(OR=1.37), family harmony(OR=1.91), having chronic diseases(OR=3.49), and high frequency in taking medications(OR=1.69)were correlated with high hospitalization rates. Conclusions The elderly population in rural areas of Northern Jiangsu shows poor health, has high needs for health services, and lacks sufficient service utilization. Key words: Health status; Health services needs and demand; Aged, rural population

Quality of Life (QOL) and Its Associated Factors among Rungus Elderly Population in the Rural Areas of Kudat, Sabah

Aging population will be an inevitable phenomenon around the globe. This study aimed to assess the quality of life and its associated factors among the elderly population in rural areas of Kudat, Sabah. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly aged 60 and above living in Tambuluran Area of Kudat. Quality of life was assessed using WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires. Socio-demographic data of the elderly, perceived morbidities and utilization of health services were collected. Independent sample t-test was used for data analysis. A total of 165 respondents participated in this study with a mean age of 71.42±6.50. The mean WHOQOL-BREF score was 65.20 ±11.49. Mean scores for physical and psychological domains were lower than average. Age, marital status, educational level and perceived morbidity were associated significantly with QOL. In conclusion, QOL was generally average among elderly in rural areas of Kudat. Therefore, interventions should place emphasis on physical and psychological aspects of life among these aged population.

Study of Health Problems and Addiction Pattern among Elderly Population in Rural Areas of Pune, India

Background: There is considerable rise in elderly population as per 2011 census of India and majority of them are residing in rural areas. Objective: To study health problems amongst the elderly population of Rural areas of Pune, Maharashtra. To study pattern of addictions amongst the elderly population of rural areas of Pune, Maharashtra. Materials and methods: A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in the rural areas of Pune, Maharashtra. Individuals of 60 years and above were included in the study. Interviews with help of pre-structured and pre-tested profroma and physical examination were done by house to house survey. Results: In this study, 100 study subjects above 60 years were participated. There were 40 males and 60 females. The study showed that 80% of the study subjects were suffering from visual impairment followed by musculoskeletal problem were reported by 74% and hypertension by 35% and diabetes by 15%. Half i.e. 50% subjects were malnourished and 38% of the study subjects were addicted to masheri a kind of chewing tobacco. 25% of the males were addicted to alcohol and 34% addicted to smoking bidi. Majority 63% were aware about travelling concessions, while 27% aware about the pension scheme for elderly. Conclusion: Visual impairment was commonest health problem followed by musculoskeletal problems. Addictions such as masheri, alcohol and smoking of bidi were observed commonly especially among males. Study subjects were aware about some welfare schemes for elderly.

Tobacco use and its impact on pulmonary health among elderly population in rural area of Muzaffarnagar – A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe tobacco use is significant in Indian rural population. Among them, elderly people in rural area are at special risk due to ageing and other factors. The impact of tobacco use on elderly health, therefore, needs to be studied in depth in rural context. ObjectiveTo study the patterns of tobacco use and its consequent impact on pulmonary health of the elderly. Design and methodologyA community-based cross-sectional study was done (April 1st to September 30th, 2014) in the field practice area (village Bilaspur) of Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC) of Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar. A simple random sampling was used and elderly of 60 years and above were interviewed by semi-structured interview schedule. The data were analyzed by software Epi-info. version 7.1.3.3. Results and conclusionThe prevalence of tobacco usage among elderly was 56.7%, in which smoking was the dominant one (37%) and majority being in the form of Bidi (56.7%). Tobacco usage was significantly associated not only with age, sex, and caste (p<0.05 each), but occupational and socio-economic status (p<0.01 each) also; however, literacy was the most significant factor (p<0.0001) among all. The tobacco usage in smoking form was highly significantly associated with the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p<0.0001), elucidating a significant impact on their pulmonary health. The rural elderly people need health education regarding curtailing the use of tobacco for their better health from health clinics.

The Association Between Physical Activity, Mental Status, and Social and Family Support with Five Major Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases Among Elderly People: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Rural Population in Southern China.

Background: Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) have become the top threat in China. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of major NCDs among the elderly population in rural areas in southern China and explore its associated social determinants. Methods: A multistage cluster random sampling methodology was adopted to select a total of 9245 rural elderly people from 3860 rural households in Guangdong Province. Interviews and physical examinations were performed to collect patient information. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with the presence of major NCDs. Results: Over one-third (38.5%) of the study population suffered from five major NCDs. The grade of activities of daily living (ADL), mental status, and social relationship of elderly people without NCDs were better than those with NCDs. The major factors associated with the presence of NCDs among the elderly people included age (70–79 years group and 80–89 years group), education level (senior high/technical secondary school and junior college and above), mental status (concentration, enrichment and happy life and memory), relationship with neighbours, activities of daily living (ADL) (being able to climb three floors and bend over), physical activity, marital status (bereft), and living conditions (with offspring and family members). Conclusions: The study identified several social determinants associated with the presence of major NCDs. A higher level of family support and physical exercise might contribute to improved physical condition, mental status, and ADL among the elderly people in rural areas in southern China.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in an elderly population in rural areas of Sharkia governorate, Egypt

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in an elderly population in rural areas of Sharkia governorate, Egypt