Health Status and Health Seeking Behaviours among the Elderly in the Donmuang Slum Community, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine health status and the health seeking behaviours among the elderly in the Donmuang slum community, Bangkok, Thailand. This is a cross-sectional study. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire to 287 elderly during March - April 2012. Most of the study population aged 60 to 99 years, with two third of them were females. Most of elderly 66.9 % attained primary education and can read and write a little 43.6%. An average a monthly income of elderly less than 2,500 per month, 77.9% did not working. The study found that perception of health status was good 50.5%. Most of the elderly live with daughter and their spouses. Elderly have health problems 78.0 % and 71.4% under universal coverage. Major health problems were mainly found hypertension 57.8%, diabetes 31.0% and dyslipidemia 26.8% respectively. Minor illness include headache 23.3%, fever 4.5% and diarrhea 2.1% respectively. 69% of the elderly visit public health agencies is the most common health seeking behaviours for perceived major illness, 4.9% visit private health agencies and 2.8% do nothing respectively. Self – medication is the most common health seeking behaviours for perceived minor illness 22%, public health agencies 7.0%, Do nothing 6.6% respectively. There was no significant between personal profile and health seeking behaviours for perceived illness in this community.