Abstract
The objective of this research is to determine the health status and the factors affecting health seeking behavior of the senior citizens aged sixty years and above. It is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on household surveys. The sample consisted 400 senior citizens residents of Dharan. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the subjects. Individuals were interviewed through self-developed semi-structured pre-tested questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-squire test) were used. Among 400 respondents, the most frequently reported illness were hypertension (29.3%), diabetes mellitus (8.3%), arthritis/joint pain (24.8%), eye problems (19.0%), hearing problems (3.3%), oral health problems (17.5%), digestive system problems (17.8%), respiratory problems (11.0%), heart disease (3.8%), renal problem (5.3%), skin diseases (7.5%), tuberculosis (3.0%), liver disease (3.0%), mental illness (5.75%),fracture( 1.0%), gynecological problems (7.3%), and male genital (6.3%) problems were also noted. Faith healers were the first treatment choice (97.2%) irrespective of age, gender or ethnicity. After that they visited BPKIHS (36.3%), private practitioner (26.3%), self treatment (11.3%) and self drug-use (6.8%). Half of the respondents utilized formal health institutions only in major chronic conditions. Poverty emerged as a major determinant of health seeking behavior and treatment was considered waste of money (indirect effect 64%) and lack of money (35 .5%) followed by poor attitude of health worker(41%). The use of faith healers as first treatment provider, self-treatment, drug over counter shop were indicative factors of the inefficient utilization of health facilities in meeting the health needs of the senior citizens.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Medical Perspectives on Aging, Health, Wellness
KEYWORDS
Senior-Citizen, Health status