An Analysis of Health Problems Among the Elderly in Tuticorin Town

Abstract

Elderly people are suffering from various physical, mental, social and economic problems. Hence the study was conducted to assess the health morbidity among the rural elderly persons in Tuticorin town. The present study is based on both primary and secondary data. 300 elderly persons aged 60 years and over were selected for primary data collection by adopting simple random sampling method. Secondary data have been collected from books, journals, newspapers, internet and periodicals. The reference period of survey was 2015. Percentage analysis, averages, F test, chi square test and probability analysis were used. The table indicate that more than half of the elderly represented by a slightly (more number of women than men) reported various physical problems. The problem of skin diseases is common for both men and women. However, it is evident that the male elderly having sugar complaints form 81.33 per cent to the total. It was found that 45.33 per cent of the male elderly in the study area had heart complaints, followed by nervous disorders (33.33 per cent) whereas general weakness and joint pains is found to report mostly by women. Disorders relating to chest like tuberculosis and asthma, nervous disorders and problems relating to urinary tract infection are more common in men. The urinary problems percentage was higher among male elderly (48.00 per cent) than among female elderly (15.33 per cent) respectively, showed no significant difference. This study has highlighted that the elderly suffers from multiple morbidities, which they often attribute to ageing. It requires the strengthening of geriatric health care services in accordance with the common existing problems in the community. The elderly should be encouraged to undergo periodic medical checks at a clinic for routine appraisal of their health status, so as to allow early detection and treatment of their morbidities. These services should be accessible & affordable to them.