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Oral health care system for elderly in India
Author(s) -
Shah Naseem
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2004.00187.x
Subject(s) - medicine , population , rural area , poverty , government (linguistics) , health care , population ageing , gerontology , environmental health , economic growth , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , economics
The elderly population of India at present is over 77 million, constituting 7.7% of the total population and is expected to rise to 100 million in 2013. The two striking features regarding the elderly population of India are: (i) the rate of growth of the elderly population is much faster than the growth of the total population; and (ii) the feminization of the elderly population. Also, 80% of the elderly population reside in rural India, 30% live below the poverty line, 73% are not literate, 75% are economically dependant, 45% suffer from chronic diseases, and 5.4% are immobile. Oral cancers, which commonly manifest in older age groups, constitute 13–16% of all body cancers. India has 185 recognized dental schools from which 12 000 dental graduates qualify each year. The total dentist population ratio is 1 : 23 000. However, the distribution in urban and rural areas is very uneven; in urban areas, the dentist: population ratio is 1 : 15 000, whereas in rural areas, it is 1 : 150 000. There are several challenges for geriatric oral health care delivery in India. Education in geriatric dentistry is as not yet a recognized specialty in India. The dental manpower tends to segregate in urban areas; only 20% serve 80% of the rural elderly. The primary health centers, the basic unit of primary health care, does not have the provision for dental care. Except those in organized sectors like in government jobs, railways, defense services and public sector companies, the majority of the elderly population have no health security. Health insurance companies do not reimburse expenses on dental treatment. Dental treatment is expensive in the private sector and considered optional by the majority of elderly and their care providers. This paper provides an overview of the oral health care system for the elderly in India in the context of socio‐demographic profile, social and income security for the elderly, and the health insurance system.