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Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Profile of the Elderly Seeking Health Care in Kampala, Uganda

Nawagi, Faith LU ; Söderberg, Martin ; Berggren, Vanja LU ; Midlöv, Patrik LU orcid ; Ajambo, Aidah and Nakasujja, Noeline (2018) In Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research 2018.
Abstract

Aging entails health challenges globally, but pertinent data from low-income countries like Uganda remains scarce. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, among 134 patients (38% men and 62% women) aged ≥60 years. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, medical disorders, cognitive function, hearing handicap, and functional status, that is, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The participants had high independency in BADL (89%) and IADL (75%). The most common medical conditions were bone/joint pain (35%), hypertension (24%), and visual problems (20%). More women (54%) than men (37%) reported bone and joint pain. The... (More)

Aging entails health challenges globally, but pertinent data from low-income countries like Uganda remains scarce. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, among 134 patients (38% men and 62% women) aged ≥60 years. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, medical disorders, cognitive function, hearing handicap, and functional status, that is, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The participants had high independency in BADL (89%) and IADL (75%). The most common medical conditions were bone/joint pain (35%), hypertension (24%), and visual problems (20%). More women (54%) than men (37%) reported bone and joint pain. The majority (80%) of the participants did not report any hearing handicap, and half (54%) did not have any cognitive impairment. Dependency in IADL was associated with advanced age, being female, and being financially dependent, and the risk of having a hearing handicap was higher among those above the median age (68 years). In adjusted models, the effects remained similar although statistical significance was only achieved for advanced age versus dependency in IADL (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.12-5.08) and hearing handicap (RR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.17-6.12). Thus, socioeconomic status and gender are relevant aspects when attempting to understand the health profile of the elderly in Kampala, Uganda.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research
volume
2018
article number
4147509
publisher
Hindawi Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:85047817170
  • pmid:29861722
ISSN
1687-7063
DOI
10.1155/2018/4147509
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2687d710-201c-4b03-a8e1-5016af854450
date added to LUP
2018-06-15 13:52:54
date last changed
2024-08-05 19:02:58
@article{2687d710-201c-4b03-a8e1-5016af854450,
  abstract     = {{<p>Aging entails health challenges globally, but pertinent data from low-income countries like Uganda remains scarce. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, among 134 patients (38% men and 62% women) aged ≥60 years. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, medical disorders, cognitive function, hearing handicap, and functional status, that is, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The participants had high independency in BADL (89%) and IADL (75%). The most common medical conditions were bone/joint pain (35%), hypertension (24%), and visual problems (20%). More women (54%) than men (37%) reported bone and joint pain. The majority (80%) of the participants did not report any hearing handicap, and half (54%) did not have any cognitive impairment. Dependency in IADL was associated with advanced age, being female, and being financially dependent, and the risk of having a hearing handicap was higher among those above the median age (68 years). In adjusted models, the effects remained similar although statistical significance was only achieved for advanced age versus dependency in IADL (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.12-5.08) and hearing handicap (RR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.17-6.12). Thus, socioeconomic status and gender are relevant aspects when attempting to understand the health profile of the elderly in Kampala, Uganda.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nawagi, Faith and Söderberg, Martin and Berggren, Vanja and Midlöv, Patrik and Ajambo, Aidah and Nakasujja, Noeline}},
  issn         = {{1687-7063}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  publisher    = {{Hindawi Limited}},
  series       = {{Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research}},
  title        = {{Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Profile of the Elderly Seeking Health Care in Kampala, Uganda}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/4147509}},
  doi          = {{10.1155/2018/4147509}},
  volume       = {{2018}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}