TMSS Medical College Journal

A large number of the elderly Bangladeshi people are suffering from various health problems, however, health care services are insuflicient to cope with the problems. This study tried to find out the geriatric health problems and health care secking practice attending a selected hospital in Dhaka city. The information collected may help provide adequate guideline to help the elderly to overcome old aged health problems. A cross sectional study was carried out among 180 (120 male & 60 female) respondents in Diabetic Association Medical College Hospital, Faridpur during January, 2010 to December, 2010 with a objoctive to study the health related problems among the elderly people (Respondents age between 60-80 ycars) attending in DAMC Hospital, Faridpur. Out of 180 respondents, 80 (66.65) male & 45 (75) female respondents were aged between 60 - 69 years, 25 (20.8%) male & 10 (16.6%) female respondents aged between 70 - 79 ycars & rest 15 (12.5%) male & 5 (8.3%) female were aged more than 80 years. Out of 180 respondents 112 (93.3%) male & 50 (83.3%) female were married, 4 (3.3%) male 4 (6.6%) female were separated & 3 (2.5%) male & 6 (10%) female were widow / widower. Of the 180 respondents SS (45.5%) male & 35 (58.3%) female are illiterate, 40 (33.3%) male de 15 (25%) female had primary level education, 17 (14.1%) male & 6 (10%) female had secondary level education & rest 8 (6.6%) male & 4 (6.6%) female were graduate or above graduate. 100 (55.5%) respondents had monthly income < 5,000 BDT, 60 (33.3%) respondents had monthly income 5,000 - 10, 000 BDT & rest 20 (11.1%) respondents had income > 10,000 BDT. Among the respondents 70 (33.8%) were reported to the qualified doctor, 40 (22.2%) respondents reported to the traditional healers, 30 (16.6%) respondents to treatment from Homeopath, 10 (5.5%) to treatment from kobiraj & rest only 10 (5.5%) were self treated. Regarding socioeconomic status 70% respondents were lower socioeconomic group, 22.25% were middle socioeconomic group & rest 77.7% were upper socioeconomic group. Morbidity pattern showed that most Morbidity Diabetes mellitus 70 (38.8), hypertension 70 (38.8), B. Asthma 26 (14.4), Ch. Bronchitis 20 (11.1), Heart disease 35 (19.4), Arthritis with joint pain 80 (44.4), Skin discase 45 (25.0), Cataract 70 (38.8), Hearing loss 30 (16.6). Piles 14 (7.7), Injury & wound 10 (5.5), Smoking 71 (39.4), Incontinence of urine 34 (18.8), Dental problem 60 (33.3), Insomnia 21 (11.6). Many of the elderly did not seek health care from hospital or clinic. They prefer Homeopath, Unani medicine & traditional healers.

Geriatric health problem is an important part of the total community & comprises of nearly 8% of the total population of Bangladesh. Aging is one of the emerging problems in Bangladesh this problem has been gradually increasing with its far reducing consequence. The number of elderly person in Bangladesh was projected to double from 7.5 million in 2001 to 16.2 million by 20251. No one knows when old age begins. The "biological age" of a person is not identical with his "chronological age". It is said that nobody grows old merely by living a certain number of years. Years wrinkle the skin, but worry, doubt, fear, anxiety and self-distrust wrinkle the soul. With the passage of time, certain changes take place in an organism. These changes are, for the most part deleterious and