Nutritional Status and Associated Factors among the Elderly People in Mandavi Rural Municipality of Pyuthan District, Nepal

Introduction: The geriatric population is increasing throughout the world. With the increase in age, people suffer from various chronic diseases and conditions. Nutrition-related problems are also common in elderly people. This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and associated factors among elderly people. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional descriptive and quantitative study was carried out among 124 elderly people of Mandavi Rural Municipality, Pyuthan, Nepal from September 2019 to November 2019. The study population was selected using a convenient method. Data collection was carried out through a structured questionnaire using the standard tool, mini nutritional assessment (MNA). Ethical approval was taken from Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC). Chi-square test was used to identify the association between independent variables and nutritional status. Results: More than 1/4th of the total respondents had weight loss in the last three months. More than 1/4th of the participants had neuropsychological problem and psychological stress. Out of the studied population, 22.6 % had hypertension and 8.9% had diabetes. 18.5% were smokers while 40.3% were alcohol users. 40.3% were at risk of malnutrition and 4.0% were malnourished (MNA< 17.23). Sex (p = 0.04), smoking (p = 0.014), decline in food intake (p = 0.042), psychological stress (p = 0.03) and neuropsychological problem (p = 0.01) were found significantly associated with the nutritional status (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: A significant proportion of participants were at the risk of malnourishment. Effective intervention should be designed to promote healthy aging among elders dwelling in rural areas.