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Harsukh Educational Charitable Society International Journal of Community Health and Medical Research

Volume 6 Issue 1 Jan-March 2020

Original Articles

A Study to Determine Factors Affecting Health Seeking Behavior of Elderly in a Rural Area of Katihar
Nipendra Anand, Md. Nasim Akhter

Background: With increase in proportion of aged population, number of elderly with ailments is also on rise but the health care delivery system of most countries are not equipped to tackle the problem. The present study was conducted to determine factors affecting health seeking behavior of elderly. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 580 elderly aged 60 years and above of both genders. Type of morbidity in all subjects was recorded. Factors such as education level, marital status, socio- economic status and type of family were recorded. Results: Out of 580 subjects, males were 380 and females were 200. Age group 60-70 years had 120 males and 70 females, 70-80 years had 140 males and 40 females and >80 years had 120 males and 90 females. 110 subjects seeking allopathic treatment, 80 ayush, 50 ayurvedic, 120 no medication and 220 self medication. Type of health facility was government used by 9 0and private by 150. Reason for not seeking treatment was waiting for recovery 20, Feel not necessary 30, Lack of money 55, Distance of health facility 10, No one to take him/her to hospital 5. Education level was upto high school in 200, secondary in 160, degree in 80 and illiteracy in 140, socio- economic status was upper in 130, middle in 200 and lower in 250, marital status was married in 450 and unmarried/separated/widow/widower in 130, type of family was nuclear in 240 and joint in 340 subjects. Conclusion: Authors found that factors such as education level, type of family, socio- economic status, marital status affected health seeking behavior. Reason for not seeking treatment was waiting of recovery, lack of money and one who feel it not necessary.

 
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