RESUMO
Objective:To evaluate and analyze the health status of the elderly from physical health, mental health and social health, so as to understand the health status and health service needs of rural elderly.Methods:A total of 263 elderly people aged 60 years and over(mean aged 70.9±7.9 years, 113 males and 150 females, 125 aged 60-69 years, 98 aged 70-79 years and 40 aged 80 years and over)in Nanwangkong Village, Shaozhuang Town, Qingzhou City, Weifang City, Shandong Province were selected by cluster sampling method.The physical, mental, social and overall health status of the elderly were comprehensively evaluated and analyzed by self-designed questionnaire.Results:The overall health rate was 30%(79 cases), and the physical health, mental health and social health rates were 73.8%(194 cases), 84.0%(221 cases)and 34.6%(91 cases), respectively, in rural elderly in this area.The physical health was better in males than in females in 80~ years old groups( χ2=5.736, P<0.05). The overall health was better in males than in females in the total age group and the 60~69 years old groups( χ2=7.468 and 11.116, both P<0.01). The proportions of unhealthy, basic healthy and healthy people in the overall and the dimensions of physical health, mental health and social health had significant differences in the 60~69, 70~79 and 80~ years old groups( χ2=40.590, 29.342, 18.503 and 27.615, all P<0.01), and the Chi-square test for trend showed that there was a statistically significant downward trend of overall health grade distribution with age( χ2=21.994, 12.831, 16.570 and 22.595, both P<0.01). Conclusions:In this study, 30.0% of the rural elderly were considered healthy, 48.3% were basically healthy, and 21.7% were unhealthy.The health status of the elderly gradually deteriorates with age.The government should strengthen the multidimensional health assessment of the rural elderly and provide the comprehensive health guidance services and targeted interventions for the elderly in terms of disease control, psychological counseling and social participation.