Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2017

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF RURAL ELDERLY IN TAMIL NADU

D. Kathirvel

Abstract :

 Population ageing is an inevitable consequence of the demographic transition experienced by all the countries across the world. An extended life ings challenges on various physical, psychological and social grounds. The nutritional state is one of the major determinants of health status of elderly and hence plays major role in determining the quality of life. There is, however, little evidence to suggest that older people today are experiencing their later years in better nutritional status and health. In this context this study attempt to assess the nutritional status of elderly and to identify the correlates of nutritional status of elderly. The study was carried out in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu with the intention to assess the nutritional status of rural elderly and a total of 450 elderly were selected. A structured interview schedule consists of the diet pattern, anthropometric measurement and nutritional status (MNA – SF) was used to collect data. The nutritional status of elderly assessed based on the anthropometric measurements indicate that 39.3 percent of elderly were in the state of malnutrition. The prevalence of malnutrition increases with age. Education status and economic status of elders are significantly associated with nutritional status. Health status, geriatric depression, health risk behavior status, and the activities of daily living status are significantly associated with the nutritional status of elderly. Adequate intervention on the nutrition level of elderly at village level needs to be initiated in order to make the older persons a prosperous and productive citizen.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

D. Kathirvel, NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF RURAL ELDERLY IN TAMIL NADU, INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH : Volume-7 | Issue-11 | November-2017

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