Morbidity Pattern and Health Seeking Behaviour of Geriatric Population in A Rural Area OfGurugramA Cross Sectional Community Based Study

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Population aging is a global phenomenon in India, the size of
the elderly population is growing fast so many older adults have facing multiple medical
conditions, elderly health problems and health seeking behaviourisprerequisite for proving
comprehensive geriatric care to them. Hence, this study is an attempt to explore the
morbidity profile and health seeking behaviour of the geriatric population of a rural area of
Gurugram, Haryana. Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in
the Department of Community Medicine, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana. After took
the ethical clearance, the study has been carried out 260 population and data was collected
from considered area, in a period of one year. In this study included elderly aged 60 years
(both male and female) and residing in the study area more than six months followed by two
stage random sampling technique using PPS (Probability Proportional to Size) was adopted
for the present study, Simple Random Sampling and identification of number of
households from each village using PPS. The interview was carried out by clinical
examination; elicit the health seeking behaviour of study subject’s information regarding
perception of illness. In our study, data record on the basis of Blood pressure, blood
sugar, distant vision, hearing loss, diagnosis of diseases was done on the basis of clinical
presentation and previously diagnosed or treated cases. Results: After data collection, the
information was entered in Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and coding and tabulation was
done. Further analysis was carried out using the Statistical Software Epi Info 7 provided by
the CDC, Atlanta, United States of America. Various statistical tests like proportions and chi
square tests were applied. A significant p value was considered when it was less than 0.05
and it was considered highly significant when p value was less than or equal 0.01.