Socioeconomic factors, functional disability and number of diseases among the elderly

Abstract

doi: 10.5216/ree.v12i4.7628

The human aging process is multifactorial, and to occur with quality, several factors must be considered, such as gender, living arrangements, education, income, chronic diseases and functional capacity. To deepen these aspects this study aimed to compare the number of morbidity among elderly, with education, income, use of health services and number of functional disabilities. 2.912 elderly people were interviewed at home, selected through proportional stratified sampling technique, with systematic selection, considering the districts as stratum. Data were entered into double entry in EpiInfo3.2. It was considered descriptive analysis followed by qui-square test (p <0.05). Most elderly people are female, with 60|-70 years old, having 3|-8 years of study, receives 1|-|3 minimum wages, sought medical care in the last 12 months, were not hospitalized, held examination in the last 12 months, had problems in meeting the health service, especially for the long waiting time, presents 1|-3 disability and has an average of four morbidities. The greatest number of illnesses is proportionally larger in women, among older people with no schooling, lower-income individual, looking more for a health service, with the greatest frequency of hospitalization and more functional disability.

Descriptors: Elderly; Chronic disease; Primary health care.