• Users Online: 180
  • Print this page
  • Email this page
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2021  |  Volume : 17  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 22-27

Prevalence and correlates of physical disability among elderly rural population in a community development block of Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal


Department of Community Medicine, Burdwan Medical College, Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

Correspondence Address:
Sulagna Das
122/2, Banamali Ghosh Lane, Behala, Kolkata - 700 034, West Bengal
India
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/jiag.jiag_6_21

Rights and Permissions

Introduction: With demographic transition and increase in life expectancy elderly population has increased substantially in recent years. Rapid growth in the elderly population resulted in high magnitude of noncommunicable diseases leading to physical disability, dependency on caregivers and poor quality of life. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of physical disability among elderly rural population in a community development block. Subjects and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bhatar block of Purba Bardhaman district from November 2020 to January 2021 among 350 elderly participants ≥60 years selected by multistage random sampling. With prior informed consent, data were collected using semi-structured pre-designed, pretested schedule and 10-item Barthel index. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done to find out the correlates. Results: The prevalence of physical disability among elderly was 28.9% and proportion was more in ≥70 years age group, 62.6% of the subjects suffered from one or more chronic diseases. In bivariate analysis age (odds ratio [OR] = 5.36), caste (OR = 2.27), education (OR = 4.57), current employment status (OR = 0.13), type of family (OR = 2.15), socioeconomic status (OR = 4.04) and presence of any chronic diseases (OR = 1.86) was significantly associated with physical disability. Multivariable analysis revealed age (adjusted OR [AOR] = 2.96 [1.54–5.68]), education (AOR = 2.98 [1.60–5.54]) and current employment status (AOR = 0.23 [0.09–0.58]) as significant predictors. Conclusions: The prevalence of physical disability among elderly is substantially high in the study area. Effective promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative geriatric health care services need to be strengthened for early diagnosis and treatment of health problems in the elderly.


[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
Print this article     Email this article
 Next article
 Previous article
 Table of Contents

 Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
 Citation Manager
 Access Statistics
 Reader Comments
 Email Alert *
 Add to My List *
 * Requires registration (Free)
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed811    
    Printed90    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded60    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 1    

Recommend this journal