Study of addiction problems and morbidity among geriatric population in rural area of Aurangabad district

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the addiction problems and morbidity profile pattern of geriatric population in rural area? OBJECTIVES: i) To study the morbidity profile of elderly. ii) To study the addiction problems among elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was carried out at the field practice area of Rural Health and Training Center (RHTC), Paithan of Government Medical College, Aurangabad during the period of September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007. Total elderly population according to the definition at the field practice area of RHTC, Paithan was 3128. Enlisting of the study subjects was done by systematic random sampling by using Loksabha electoral list of 2005. A sample of 20% of total elderly population was taken by including every fifth elderly from the electoral list. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTINGS: Field practice area of RHTC, Paithan of Government Medical College, Aurangabad. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly above 60 years of age. SAMPLE SIZE: 625 which was 20% of total elderly at RHTC, Paithan. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square test. RESULTS: a) The study found that the prevalence of addiction among males was 68.34%, the prevalence of various addictions were smoking 29.96%, alcohol 18.18%, tobacco chewing 29.29% and among females, 45.42% elderly females use to chew tobacco. b) Prevalence of cataract was 40.16%, joint pain - 23.04%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) - 7.52%, senescent forgetfulness - 10.88%, hemorrhoids - 8.64%, benign enlargement of prostate (BEP) - 7.20% in elderly males, hearing impairment - 24.8%, hypertension - 21.6%, diabetes mellitus - 13.92%, and anemia - 8.32%.