Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: January | Volume: 4 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 43-47
A Study of Factors Associated with Health Seeking Behaviour of Elderly in Rural Field Practice Area of Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Bijapur
Santosh D. Patil1*@, M. M. Angadi1**, Ramesh Mayappanavar2*, Saravanan E3*
*Assistant Professor,**Professor and HOD
1Department of Community Medicine, BLDEU’s, Shri B M Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka.
2Department of Community Medicine, S Nijalingappa Medical College, Navanagar, Bagalkot, Karnataka.
3Department of Community Medicine, PES Institute of Medical Science and Research, Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
@Corresponding Author: Santosh D. Patil
ABSTRACT
Background: “Population ageing” was one of the most distinctive demographic events of the twentieth century. It will surely remain important throughout the twenty-first century. Today 60% of those aged above 60 years live in developing countries and their proportion will increase to 80% by 2050. The elderly population in India accounts for 7.4% of the total population.
Objectives: 1) To study the socio demographic profile of elderly people. 2) To study the role of these factors in health seeking behaviour of the elderly people.
Materials and Methodology: A cross-sectional, community based study was conducted in Shivanagi Village, the rural field practice area of Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Bijapur. All the elderly people above the age of 60 years who were permanent residents of the area were included in the study. The study was conducted over a period of one year. After obtaining oral consent, one to one interview was done to obtain information regarding socio-demographic profile and health-seeking behavior of the elderly person. Data was analyzed using appropriate tests like mean, standard deviation, Chi Square test and was presented in the form of graphs, tables and figures.
Results: A total of 710 elderly individuals were interviewed. 68.73% were illiterate and 70.99% were not leading an economically productive life. 80.99% were living with their children. 14.8% were suffering from one or more chronic illnesses. 92% of these sought healthcare for their chronic illness which comprised of a significantly higher number of “young old” and “old old” respondents compared to “oldest old”. 96.05% of the elderly males sought healthcare as compared to 79.17% of elderly females which was found to be statistically significant. As the literacy rate increases health seeking behavior also increases, which was found to be statistically significant.
Conclusion: Though it is heartening to know that 92% of those having chronic illnesses sought healthcare, factors such as gender inequality, literacy and socioeconomic class which play an important role in health seeking behavior should be addressed more efficiently.
Key words:Population ageing, Geriatric population, Health Seeking Behaviour, Chi square test.