Health status and health seeking behaviours among the elderly in The Donmuang Slum Community, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Most of the study population aged 60 to 96 years, two third of them were women and the majority of the elderly achieved primary education 66.9% and 43.6 % could read and write a little. The average monthly income of elderly was less than 2,500 baht per month, 77.9% did not work. The average life arrangement of elderly lived with 1 – 5 family member. Most of the accommodation were their owner. The bedrooms of the elderly was on the ground floor of the house. Besides, most of them sleep on the bed and use a flush toilet. Perception of health status was good 52.9%, fair 28.2 % and not good 18.8%. Elderly have underlying diagnosed by physician (78%) and 71.4% under universal coverage. Major health problems mainly found were hypertension (57.8%), diabetes (31.0%) and dyslipidemia (31.0%) . Minor illness included headache (23.3%), muscle pain (19.8%), and fever (10.3%). When getting a minor illness, the elderly choose their own medicine byself and when the illness was treated. They got to government hospitals and private sectors, respectively. Assessibility to health center, most of them transportation was personal car and motorcycle. Elderly use time between 15 – 30 minutes to waiting at health center. For overall satisfaction was satisfied. Factors affecting the health status of statistical significance were the level of education. The ability to read and write, health problems and family relationship. Factor affecting health seeking behaviours of statistical significance was satisfaction of health center.