Association of social roles, health, and health behavior of elderly women in Croatia

Džakula, Aleksandar and Babić Bosanac, Sanja and Brborović, Ognjen and Vukušić Rukavina, Tea and Vončina, Luka (2007) Association of social roles, health, and health behavior of elderly women in Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal, 48 (5). pp. 684-690. ISSN 0353-9504

Preview

PDF - Published Version Download (418kB) | Preview

Abstract

AIM: To explore the association between the social role and objective and subjective health measures and use of health care services in the population of women older than 65 years in Croatia. ----- METHODS: We used the data from the 2003 Croatian Adult Health Survey (Short Form 36 Health Survey). Two sub-populations, retired women and housewives aged over 65 years, were analyzed and compared according to anthropometric measures, health self-assessment, utilization of health care services, and socioeconomic status. ----- RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 791 housewives and 1151 retired women. Housewives had larger waist circumference (98.44+/-13.9 vs 96.49+/-13.5, P=0.002, t test) and higher systolic blood pressure (152.88+/-25.2 vs 147.79+/-22.8, P<0.001, t test). On self health assessment, housewives had lower index on Mental Component Summary (MCS) (40.28+/-12.5 vs 42.96+/-12.4, P<0.001, t test).They also had lower self-assessed quality of life (40.28+/-12.5 vs 42.96+/-12.4, P<0.001, t test). Housewives performed regular breast check-ups significantly less often in the 12 months before the survey (7.5% vs 13.6%, chi2=18.0350, P<0.001), but they performed other forms of medical examinations, including general physical check-ups as often as retired women. ----- CONCLUSION: Housewives differed from retired women of the same age in objective and subjective measures of health status, use of health care services, self perceived health, and self-assessed quality of life. These differences should be taken into account when planning public health measures for these age groups of women.

Abstract in Croatian

Cilj: Ispitati povezanost društvene uloge i objektivnog i subjektivnog odnosa prema zdravlju i korištenju zdravstvenih usluga u populaciji žena starijih od 65 godina u Hrvatskoj. ----- Postupci: Uporabljeni su podatci Hrvatske zdravstvene ankete (Short Form 36 Health Survey) iz godine 2003. U žena umirovljenica i domaćica starijih od 65 godina analizirane su i uspoređene antropometrijske mjere samoprocjena zdravlja, korištenje zdravstvenih usluga i društvenoekonomsko stanje. ----- Rezultati: Krajnji uzorak sastojao se od 791 domaćice i 1151 umirovljenice. Domaćice su imale veći opseg pojasa (98.44±13.9 vs 96.49±13.5, P=0.002, t test) i viši sistolički krvni tlak (152.88±25.2 vs 147.79±22.8, P<0.001, t test). U samoprocjeni zdravlja domaćice su imale niži indeks na Mental Component Summary (MCS) ljestvici (40.28±12.5 vs 42.96±12.4, P<0.001, t test). Slabijom su procjenjivale i kvalitetu svojega života (40.28±12.5 vs 42.96±12.4, P<0.001, t test). Značajno rjeđe su obavljale regularne preglede dojki u godini koja je prethodila anketi (7.5% vs 13.6%, χ2=18.0350, P<0.001), ali druge oblike pregleda, uključivši i općemedicinske, obavljale su jednako redovito kao umirovljenice. ----- Zaključak: Domaćice se od umirovljenica razlikuju u objektivnim i subjektivnim mjerama zdravstvenog stanja, korištenju zdravstvenim uslugama i samoprocjeni kvalitete života. To treba držati na umu pri odgovarajućem javnozdravstvenom planiranju.

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads