สถานะสุขภาพและความต้องการด้านสุขภาพของผู้สูงอายุ ตำบลคูคต อำเภอลำลูกกา จังหวัดปทุมธานี Health Status and Health Needs of Elderly in Khukhot Subdistrict Lumlukka District Pathumthani Province

Abstract

Thailand currently is an aging society. There are many elderly in the Khukhot subdistrict. To get basic information of senior citizens, therefore, is important for future benefits.

Objectives To analyze health status and health needs of the elderly and to determine association of factors that affect the health of the elderly.   

Methods The present research had a cross-sectional study design. The survey was based on a questionnaire. The sample live in Khukhot Municipality. Systemiatic random sampling from the names and the addresses of the elderly on allowances, 826 persons. Data collection using interviews based on a presently designed questionnaire (reliability; Cronbach’s alpha is 0.75) and quantitative data analysis by frequency, percent, arithematic mean, standard deviation and Chi-Square Test.

Results The elderly sample, mostly female (62.23 percent), at the average age of 70.01 years with 79.78 percent having comorbidities and almost one in three (31.96 percent) having been through fall incidents.       As regards health behaviours, most of them took daytime naps, slept easily and well, had normal bowel movements. Some of the subjects exercised (62.35 percent), smoked (7.38 percent) and drank alcohol (7.99 percent). Active-aging, need-a-little-help, and need-help subjects were 87.77, 3.63, and 2.91 percent, respectively. In psychological aspect, the largest portion of them was a little anxious and stressed (38.98 percent). In terms of families, there were roughly three members is (23.24 percent) in each family, living in a two-storey house with the upper storey being where they slept and with flush-type toilet with non-slippery bathroom floor. As regards community, most willingly participated in some activities. The seniors responded that they were in good, good-enough, great, poor and excellent health (41.40, 38.14, 9.08, 6.54 and 0.48 percent, respectively). Factors statistically significantly affecting the health of the elderly were exercise behaviours (P-value 0.000), food seasonings (P-value 0.001), and anxiety and stress (P-value 0.000).

Suggestion Qualitative research should be conducted to reflect the community context. The results should be used as the basis.   Factors statistically significantly affecting the health of the elderly were exercise behaviours (X² (df, N = 3, 782) = 22.567, P< .0001), food seasonings (X² (df, N = 6, 739) = 24.035, P=.001), and anxiety and stress (X² (df, N = 9, 751) = 66.947, P< .0001).