Author/Authors :
hallit, souheil lebanese university - faculty of pharmacy, institut national de santé publique, épidémiologie clinique et toxicologie, faculty of public health, Beirut, Lebanon , hallit, souheil université de bordeaux - bordeaux population health research center inserm - occupational health environment research team, Bordeaux, France , hallit, souheil psychiatric hospital of the cross - research department, Jal Eddib, Lebanon , hallit, souheil saint-joseph university (usj) - school of pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon , hallit, souheil holy spirit university of kaslik - faculty of medicine and medical sciences, Kaslik, Lebanon , salameh, pascale lebanese university - faculty of pharmacy, institut national de santé publique, épidémiologie clinique et toxicologie, faculty of public health, faculty of medicine, Beirut, Lebanon , boulos, christa saint-joseph university (usj) - department of nutrition, Beirut, Lebanon
Abstract :
Objective : To describe the socio-demographic characteristics, the health and living conditions and the nutritional status of rural elderly within the five governorates (Mohafazat) and compare results between genders. Methods : A cross-sectional population based study was carried out which enrolled 1200 community dwelling elderly individuals aged 65 years and above. Results : Among the participants, women were significantly more illiterate and financially dependent in all governorates compared to men. A significantly higher proportion of men was found to have better self-reported health in North (p 0.001) and South Lebanon (p 0.001) and Nabatieh (p = 0.009). Depressive disorders and cognitive decline were significantly more prevalent among women compared to men in four of the five governorates. Poor nutritional status was significantly more prevalent among women in Mount Lebanon, North and South Lebanon (p = 0.031, p = 0.008 and p = 0.021 respectively). Women were significantly more isolated than men in Nabatieh only and reported a higher feeling of loneliness in South Lebanon and Nabatieh (p = 0.044 and p 0.001 respectively). Conclusion : A better care for the elderly, especially women, throughout Lebanon and in certain regions in particular, is definitely warranted. Priority for access to care, sources offunding and health insurance should be secured for all Lebanese older adults.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
socioeconomic status , health status , elderly , mohafaza , gender
