Provision and use of assistive device and medication among elderly people in Basra

Abstract EN

This is a cross-sectional household survey carried out to study the extent of use of assistive device regarding type, number, source, and effectiveness and to study the extent of use of medications with respect to their number, cause and type among elderly people (60years and above).

Two areas in Basrah Governorate (namely Hay-Al-KhahJ “A1 ”and Shatt-Al Arab “A2”) were involved in the study.

The study involved 240 elderly individuals from “A1 ” and 211 elderly individuals from “A2”.

It ivas found that less than half of the elderly (43.7 %) had at least one assistive device with a higher rate in A1 (56.3 %) than in A2 (29.4 %).

Nearly 67 % were on regular treatmentthe remaining 33% were not, of whom about 60% had health problems.

The study recommended that assistive devices and medications should be providedfree of charge or in subsidised prices at accessible sources.