European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Geriatric population requiresspecial needs for theirlife support and health care. Understanding their health-seeking behavior, quality of life (QOL), and morbidities is thus essential for reinforcing health-care services delivery for them.
Objective: To assess the health status of geriatric population with special reference to QOL in urban and urban slum population.
Methodology: This community based, comparative, cross-sectional studyincluded 288geriatricindividual of either gender, aged≥60 years, from urban (n=153) and urban slum (n = 135) areas. Data was collected through interview for personnel details, family, social and psychological background as per proforma. Medical examination was carried out at home. The QOL was assessed by using tool comprised of Assessment of Quality of Life(AQoL) instrument (Australian Centre for Quality of Life). Statistical analysis was performed by using R software (Version. 3.6.0).
Results: Majority of individuals from both the area were in the age group of 60-64 years (35.76%) with female preponderance (Male: Female = 1: 1.2). A significant difference was noted in the demographic and social variables, and HR-QoL(Score) between urban and urban slum area (P<0.05). Most individuals in both the area suffered with arthritis. In urban area diabetes and hypertension, and in urban slum area cataract was common morbidity. The mean score for assessment of QOL instrument was higher in case of urban (13.05 ± 7.85) then urban slum area (9.44 ± 7.95). A significant association was observed between HR-QoL (score) and different variables viz. gender, type of family, marital status from urban, and gender, marital status from urban slum area (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Due to lack of awareness and poor living conditions the proportion of morbidities is more among geriatric populationin urban slum. However, high expectations from society and believe in having good living conditions along with high expectations, older people in urban area tend to have more depressed life.