Comparative Study of the Health of Elderly Population: A Case Study of District Haora, West Bengal

By : Satabdi Ganguly , Snehamanju Basu

Page No: 438-450

Abstract
The present paper attempts to identify the physical health-related issues of the elderly population in selected rural and urban areas of Haora district, West Bengal. The study has also been extended to include how the health status of the elderly varies with gender, according to age-cohorts, education, socio-economic position, and environmental situations. In this regard, a community-based study is conducted in one community development block of the district and one municipal corporation by using a simple random sampling method. A total of 300 elderly persons are selected with a mean age of 69.69 years and 150 each from both units. The principal component analysis is used to identify the wealth quintile which represents their socio-economic status. The prevalence of chronic disease data is collected from the field. Self-reported health describes their perception of health. The result shows that disease probability increases with age. Education, gainful occupation, domicile, and socio-economic position controls the health and health-related behaviour of the elderly.

Authors :
Abstract: The present paper attempts to identify the physical health-related issues of the elderly population in selected rural and urban areas of Haora district, West Bengal. The study has also been extended to include how the health status of the elderly varies with gender, according to age-cohorts, education, socio-economic position, and environmental situations. In this regard, a community-based study is conducted in one community development block of the district and one municipal corporation by using a simple random sampling method. A total of 300 elderly persons are selected with a mean age of 69.69 years and 150 each from both units. The principal component analysis is used to identify the wealth quintile which represents their socio-economic status. The prevalence of chronic disease data is collected from the field. Self-reported health describes their perception of health. The result shows that disease probability increases with age. Education, gainful occupation, domicile, and socio-economic position controls the health and health-related behaviour of the elderly.

Authors :
Satabdi Ganguly
Senior Research Fellow, Lady Brabourne College, Department of Geography, University of Calcutta. 

Snehamanju Basu
Registrar, Jadavpur University, Former Associate Professor, Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2022.42.02.12