Open AccessAssessment of Nutritional Status and Its Associated Factors in Elderly in Rural Area of Tamil Nadu, India
Author(s) -
M. Vidyalakshmi,
B. Kirubhakaran
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
galore international journal of health science and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-9321
DOI - 10.52403/gijhsr.20210107
Subject(s) - malnutrition , medicine , functional illiteracy , gerontology , depression (economics) , activities of daily living , environmental health , quality of life (healthcare) , geriatric depression scale , physical therapy , psychiatry , anxiety , depressive symptoms , nursing , pathology , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics
Ageing population is increasing rapidly in India, posing many challenges to health care services. One among the challenge is growing malnutrition in elderly. Malnutrition impairs body composition and body function of elderly thereby impairing their quality of life. Hence measures to prevent and treat malnutrition is need of the hour. Malnutrition is multifactorial and hence study to determine various factors associated with malnutrition becomes essential.Aim and objective: The objective of present study was to assess the nutritional status of elderly and to study the various factors associated with malnutrition.Materials and methods: Each individual in the study was subjected to a personal interview on demographic detail, living condition, literacy and financial status. Functional status was assessed using Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), depression using Geriatric depression scale (GDS), nutritional status using Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and caloric intake using 24 hour dietary recall.Result: A signicant association was found between the nutritional status and age group more than 75 years, female gender, illiteracy, living alone without family support, status of being nancially and functionally dependent, depression and inadequate caloric intake.Conclusion: It is essential to perform nutritional assessment as routine out patient procedure for all elderly to detect malnutrition at earliest and intervene early to prevent deleterious effect of malnutrition on elderly. Multi dimensional approach is needed to educate about need of proper nutrition to elders and their caregivers.Keywords: Caloric intake, Healthy ageing, Malnutrition, Nutrition.