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Morbidity pattern and healthcare seeking behavior among the elderly in an urban settlement of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Source :
- Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care; Mar2019, Vol. 8 Issue 3, p944-949, 6p
- Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Background: Population aging is inevitable. Old age is marked with health problems because of aging process, long-term chronic illnesses, also associated with social and mental problems. Objectives: To determine the pattern of physical morbidities in geriatric population and to study the utilization of health services among them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken from April to September 2017, among 270 consenting elderly people, residing in urban slums under field practice area of a medical college, using a structured interview schedule. Results: Among the 270 elderly, 36.30% were males, 80% belonged to nuclear families. A total of 262 reported of some morbidity, 61.85% had hypertension, 45.19% had diabetes, 37.78% had acid peptic disease, and 51.08% reported to have 1--3 morbidities. Majority (41.85%) of them had visited a physician on an average of 4--6 times in the preceding year. A total of 84.81% went to the urban health center, whereas 24.81% to a government hospital for treatment. Reasons cited for preference of health facility were "free consultation" and "nearby location" (85.19%). A total of 90.74% received allopathic medicines. Conclusion: Prevalence of morbidity was found to be high, which can be attributed to their compromised living conditions. Health-seeking behavior was found to be good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22494863
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Family Medicine & Primary Care
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 135668252
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_8_19