Percepción de salud en adultos mayores de la provincia Matanzas / Health perception in elderly persons from the Matanzas province

RESUMEN

Introducción: el estudio de la calidad de vida global y de sus dimensiones es de gran utilidad en los adultos mayores, en tanto constituye un trazador cualitativo de la salud en este segmento poblacional, aquejado con frecuencia de discapacidades que limitan su desempeño social. Objetivos: identificar la percepción de la dimensión salud por parte los adultos mayores de la provincia de Matanzas, y su relación con variables seleccionadas, durante el primer semestre de 2007...

ABSTRACT

Introduction: the study of the global quality of life and of its dimensions is very useful in elderly persons since it is qualitative health marker in this population segment suffering frequently of inabilities limiting its social performance. Objectives: to identify the perception of health dimension by elderly persons from the Matanzas province and its relation to the variables selected during the first semester of 2007. Methods: a cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 108 559 elderly persons selecting a sample including 714 by formula of sample size calculus for descriptive studies using multistage stratified sampling. To information collection the Minimal Examination of Mental Status and the Perceived Quality of Life Assessment were applied. Absolute and percentages frequencies were estimated applying the homogeneity test and other like Ridit Analysis and X² for regression. Processing was carried out with SPSS version 11,5 and Epidat 3,1. Results are showed in statistical charts. Results: there was predominance of high category in health dimension with values of 91,7 percent, although just as an increase in age there is a decrease of high health perception (p= 0,000). The high health perception is more marked in elderly persons with a couple, with a 95,5 percent than those without couple (88,2 percent) (p= 0,000). In spite of the fact that for all the categories of schooling variable predominated the high health perception, there is a trend to its increase according to increases the schooling level. Conclusions: the high health perception declared by study population, it is expressed in a homogenous way by sexes, but like heterogeneous by age groups, marital condition and schooling level evidencing the significant relation between these latter and the study dimension