The prevalence of physical disability in a group of elderly people attending primary health care centers in Baghdad

الملخص EN

Background: The proportion of the elderlythroughout the world is continuously increasing, andbecoming a challenge, due tothe increasing number of the disabledand the rise of the national health burden.

There is a greater need to look into their physical disability aspects, which are widely neglected.

Objectives: To estimatethe prevalence of Activity of Daily Living dependency(ADL) among elderly people attendingprimary health care centers(PHCs) in Al Resafa health sector in Baghdad, and to explore the association between dependency and some socio-demographic factors.

Method: A Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in all PHCs in Al Resafa health sector in Baghdad where 250 elderly clients were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire which covered someSocio-demographic factors and Barthal index scale(a 10 item instrument measuring functional independence in personal Activities of Daily Living).

Results: Those interviewedwere 60 yearsor older, of whom those between 60 -69 years were 47.

6%, and few were 80 years or older.

There were slightly more femalesthan males (51.

6% vs48.

4%).

Most of participants (97.

6%)were living with their families, 82% were not currently employed, and 48% overweight.

According to Barthal index scale score: 78.

0% were independent while ADL with assistance observed in 15.

2% and those of ADL with severity were 6.

8%.

There was a significant association betweenincrease in age, female gender, low education and obesity and a decrease in ADL.

Conclusion: Preserving functional capacity among the elderly is a great challenge to public health.

Subjects' categorization on the basis of Barthel index to correlate functional disability is of value for a better quality of life