Morbidity pattern and healthcare seeking behavior among the elderly in an urban settlement of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Abstract

Population aging is inevitable. Old age is marked with health problems because of aging process, long-term chronic illnesses, also associated with social and mental problems. To determine the pattern of physical morbidities in geriatric population and to study the utilization of health services among them. A cross-sectional study was undertaken from April to September 2017, among 270 consenting elderly people, residing in urban slums under field practice area of a medical college, using a structured interview schedule. Among the 270 elderly, 36.30% were males, 80% belonged to nuclear families. A total of 262 reported of some morbidity, 61.85% had hypertension, 45.19% had diabetes, 37.78% had acid peptic disease, and 51.08% reported to have 1--3 morbidities. Majority (41.85%) of them had visited a physician on an average of 4--6 times in the preceding year. A total of 84.81% went to the urban health center, whereas 24.81% to a government hospital for treatment. Reasons cited for preference of health facility were "free consultation" and "nearby location" (85.19%). A total of 90.74% received allopathic medicines. Prevalence of morbidity was found to be high, which can be attributed to their compromised living conditions. Health-seeking behavior was found to be good.