Association of social roles, health, and health behavior of elderly women in Croatia

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Aleksandar Džakula
• Author: Sanja Babić Bosanac
• Author: Ognjen Brborović
• Author: Tea Vukušić Rukavina
• Author: Luka Vončina
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care

Abstract (english)

AIM: To explore the association between the social role and objective and subjective health measures and use of health care services in the population of women older than 65 years in Croatia. ----- METHODS: We used the data from the 2003 Croatian Adult Health Survey (Short Form 36 Health Survey). Two sub-populations, retired women and housewives aged over 65 years, were analyzed and compared according to anthropometric measures, health self-assessment, utilization of health care services, and socioeconomic status. ----- RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 791 housewives and 1151 retired women. Housewives had larger waist circumference (98.44+/-13.9 vs 96.49+/-13.5, P=0.002, t test) and higher systolic blood pressure (152.88+/-25.2 vs 147.79+/-22.8, P<0.001, t test). On self health assessment, housewives had lower index on Mental Component Summary (MCS) (40.28+/-12.5 vs 42.96+/-12.4, P<0.001, t test).They also had lower self-assessed quality of life (40.28+/-12.5 vs 42.96+/-12.4, P<0.001, t test). Housewives performed regular breast check-ups significantly less often in the 12 months before the survey (7.5% vs 13.6%, chi2=18.0350, P<0.001), but they performed other forms of medical examinations, including general physical check-ups as often as retired women. ----- CONCLUSION: Housewives differed from retired women of the same age in objective and subjective measures of health status, use of health care services, self perceived health, and self-assessed quality of life. These differences should be taken into account when planning public health measures for these age groups of women.

Abstract (croatian)

Cilj: Ispitati povezanost društvene uloge i objektivnog i subjektivnog odnosa prema zdravlju i korištenju zdravstvenih usluga u populaciji žena starijih od 65 godina u Hrvatskoj. ----- Postupci: Uporabljeni su podatci Hrvatske zdravstvene ankete (Short Form 36 Health Survey) iz godine 2003. U žena umirovljenica i domaćica starijih od 65 godina analizirane su i uspoređene antropometrijske mjere samoprocjena zdravlja, korištenje zdravstvenih usluga i društvenoekonomsko stanje. ----- Rezultati: Krajnji uzorak sastojao se od 791 domaćice i 1151 umirovljenice. Domaćice su imale veći opseg pojasa (98.44±13.9 vs 96.49±13.5, P=0.002, t test) i viši sistolički krvni tlak (152.88±25.2 vs 147.79±22.8, P<0.001, t test). U samoprocjeni zdravlja domaćice su imale niži indeks na Mental Component Summary (MCS) ljestvici (40.28±12.5 vs 42.96±12.4, P<0.001, t test). Slabijom su procjenjivale i kvalitetu svojega života (40.28±12.5 vs 42.96±12.4, P<0.001, t test). Značajno rjeđe su obavljale regularne preglede dojki u godini koja je prethodila anketi (7.5% vs 13.6%, χ2=18.0350, P<0.001), ali druge oblike pregleda, uključivši i općemedicinske, obavljale su jednako redovito kao umirovljenice. ----- Zaključak: Domaćice se od umirovljenica razlikuju u objektivnim i subjektivnim mjerama zdravstvenog stanja, korištenju zdravstvenim uslugama i samoprocjeni kvalitete života. To treba držati na umu pri odgovarajućem javnozdravstvenom planiranju.

• Keywords (english): Health Behavior; Health Status; Role; Women's Health; Aged; Croatia - epidemiology; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Mental Health; Occupations - statistics & numerical data; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Quality of Life; Retirement - statistics & numerical data; Socioeconomic Factors
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 48, no. 5, pp. 684-690
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:989398
• Publication: 2007-10
• Document URL: http://www.cmj.hr/2007/48/5/17948954.htm
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 09:45:16