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

Abstract

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.