Assessing health and well-being among older people in rural South Africa

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19530985
AutoresFrancesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé (0000-0002-4876-0848, University of the Witwatersrand, autor de correspondencia), Margaret Thorogood (University of the Witwatersrand), Benjamin Clark (0009-0003-9389-2860, University of London), Benjamin D Clark, Kathleen Kahn (0000-0003-3339-3931, University of the Witwatersrand), Stephen M Tollman, Stephen Tollman (0000-0003-0744-7588, University of the Witwatersrand)
Año2010
Volumen3
Número1
Páginas2126
Fecha de publicación2010-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaGlobal Health Action (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1654-9716 • E-ISSN: 1654-9880
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.3402/gha.v3i0.2126
PMID20963188
PMCIDPMC2957314
OpenAlexW2143040877
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas49
Referencias citadas22

BACKGROUND: The population in developing countries is ageing, which is likely to increase the burden of non-communicable diseases and disability. OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with self-reported health, disability and quality of life (QoL) of older people in the rural northeast of South Africa. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of 6,206 individuals aged 50 and over. We used multivariate analysis to examine relationships between demographic variables and measures of self-reported health (Health Status), functional ability (WHODASi) and quality of life (WHOQoL). RESULTS: About 4,085 of 6,206 people eligible (65.8%) completed the interview. Women (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% CI 1.09, 1.55), older age (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.97, 3.40), lower education (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.31, 2.00), single status (OR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01, 1.37) and not working at present (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.06, 1.59) were associated with a low health status. Women were also more likely to report a higher level of disability (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.14, 1.66), as were older people (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 2.25, 3.78), those with no education (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.26, 1.97), with single status (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.06, 1.46) and not working at present (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.06, 1.66). Older age (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.06, 1.74), no education (OR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.11, 1.73), single status (OR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.10, 1.49), a low household asset score (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.19, 1.94) and not working at present (OR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.07, 1.64) were all associated with lower quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents the first population-based data from South Africa on health status, functional ability and quality of life among older people. Health and social services will need to be restructured to provide effective care for older people living in rural South Africa with impaired functionality and other health problems

Cross-sectional study · Educational attainment · Environmental health · Multivariate analysis · Odds ratio · Older people · Population · Aging and Gerontology Research · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Gerontology · Internal Medicine