scholarly journals Ageing, urban marginality, and health in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Dominic A. Alaazi ◽  
Devidas Menon ◽  
Tania Stafinski ◽  
Gian Jhangri ◽  
Joshua Evans ◽  
...  

The world’s population is rapidly ageing. Global estimates for the next three decades indicate a two-fold increase in the population of older adults aged ≥60 years. Nearly 80% of this growth will occur in low and middle-income countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where population health is already under threat from poverty, degraded environments, and deficient healthcare systems. Although the world’s poorest region, sub-Saharan Africa, ironically, will witness the fastest growth in older populations, rising by 64% over the next 15 years. Indications are that the majority of this population will live in resource-poor settings, characterized by deficient housing and neighbourhood conditions. Yet, very little research has systematically examined the health and wellbeing of older adults in such settings. Drawing on the ecological theory of ageing, the present study explores the living conditions and quality of life of elderly slum dwellers in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country with a growing population of older adults. Data collection was undertaken in two phases in two environmentally contrasting neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana. In Phase 1, we carried out a cross-sectional survey of older adults in a slum community (n = 302) and a non-slum neighbourhood (n = 301), using the World Health Organization quality of life assessment tool (WHOQoL-BREF). The survey data were complemented in Phase 2 with qualitative interviews involving a sample of community dwelling older adults (N = 30), health service providers (N = 5), community leaders (N = 2), and policymakers (N = 5). Preliminary analysis of the survey data revealed statistically significant differences in the social and environment domains of quality of life, while the qualitative data identified multiple health barriers and facilitators in the two neighbourhoods. Insights from the research are expected to inform health and social interventions for older slum dwellers in Ghana.

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 591-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chen Chang ◽  
Wen-Chen Ouyang ◽  
Mei-Chun Lu ◽  
Jung-Der Wang ◽  
Susan C. Hu

ABSTRACTBackground:Depression is closely associated with quality of life (QOL) in older adults. Being elderly and exhibiting mild depressive symptoms may not lead to a depression diagnosis, but these attributes are clinically important. However, the extent to which these factors influence QOL and its determinants in older adults remains unclear.Methods:Questionnaires were administered to people aged 65 years or older at community senior centers in Taiwan to collect socio-demographic information and to assess results from the brief version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Levels of depressive symptoms were classified as no depressive symptoms (NDS), lower level of depressive symptoms (LLDS), and higher level of depressive symptoms (HLDS), corresponding to GDS = 0, 1≦GDS≦5, and GDS>5, respectively. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between the WHOQOL-BREF and its covariates for different levels of depressive symptoms.Results:A total of 454 older adults participated. The GDS and MBI scores significantly affected the WHOQOL-BREF physical and psychological domain scores in the LLDS group. Gender influenced the WHOQOL-BREF scores in the NDS group, and increased age demonstrated protective effects on the three domains in the HLDS group. Moreover, the association between the WHOQOL-BREF and its covariates varied for different levels of depressive symptoms.Conclusions:Treatment for depressive symptoms is of high priority, and early recognition of and appropriate intervention for mild depressive symptoms may improve community-dwelling older adults’ QOLs.


2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Chachamovich ◽  
Clarissa Trentini ◽  
Marcelo P. Fleck

Background: There has been increasing interest in the measurement of quality of life in cross-sectional investigations and in the assessment of intervention outcomes in elderly adults. Several instruments used in this measurement have not yet been adequately tested.Objective: To describe the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument–Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF) in a sample of Brazilian elderly.Method: A total of 424 elderly adults selected through convenience sampling completed the instruments WHOQOL-BREF, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and a sociodemographic data form. Discriminant validity, concurrent validity, criterion validity and internal consistency were analyzed.Results: The sample comprised predominantly women (64.2%), community-dwelling subjects (84.4%) and subjects who consider themselves healthy (67.5%). All domains in the instrument showed the ability to discriminate levels of depressive symptoms and hopelessness, as well as different perceptions of health status. The correlation coefficients among the domains and the BDI and BHS scores were statistically significant. The reliability coefficients present scores ranging from 0.614 to 0.925.Conclusion: The WHOQOL-BREF instrument shows suitable psychometric performance in a sample of Brazilian older adults, becoming a useful alternative in the measurement of quality of life in this population.


2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 678-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares ◽  
Flavia Aparecida Dias ◽  
Nilce Maria de Freitas Santos ◽  
anderlei José Haas ◽  
Sybelle de Castro Sousa Miranzi

Inquérito domiciliário, transversal e analítico que objetivou descrever as características sociodemográficas, de saúde e a qualidade de vida de homens idosos e verificar os fatores socioeconômicos e de saúde associados à qualidade de vida. Participaram 804 homens idosos. Os dados foram coletados pelos instrumentos: Older Americans Resources and Services(OARS), World Health Organization Quality of Life - Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) e Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults(WHOQOL-OLD). Foram realizados análise descritiva, teste t-Student, correlação de Pearson e regressão linear múltipla (p <0,05). Predominaram idosos com 60├ 70 anos, casados, 4├ 8 anos de estudo e renda de um salário mínimo. Os menores escores de qualidade de vida foram no domínio físico e na faceta autonomia e estiveram associados a ausência de companheira e de escolaridade, baixa renda, maior número de morbidades e incapacidade funcional. A incapacidade funcional foi o que mais influenciou a qualidade de vida, excetuando-se o domínio físico e a faceta intimidade.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Benham ◽  
Minhee Kang ◽  
Namrata Grampurohit

Immersive virtual reality (VR) can provide a high level of engagement and distraction analgesia to address pain. However, community-based applications of this technology for older adults have not been studied. The objective of this study was to examine the applicability and effectiveness of an immersive VR intervention for pain, depression, and quality of life (QOL) in older adults. This pretest–posttest, mixed-methods design included senior center members ( n = 12) with pain that interfered with daily functioning. The outcomes included the Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) depression scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Brief Version (WHO QOL-BREF), and open-ended questions. The VR intervention (15- to 45-min sessions, 12 sessions over 6 weeks) was well accepted with no dropouts. There was a significant decrease in pain ( p = .002, d = −1.54) with no effect on depression and QOL. There were no adverse effects, and positive perceptions of VR were reported. The 6-week immersive VR intervention was applicable and effective in reducing pain intensity for community-dwelling older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Muszalik ◽  
Agnieszka Kotarba ◽  
Ewa Borowiak ◽  
Grażyna Puto ◽  
Mateusz Cybulski ◽  
...  

Introduction: Frailty syndrome, as a physiological syndrome, is characterized by a gradual decline in physiological reserve and a lowered resistance to stress-inducing factors, leading to an increased risk of adverse outcomes. It is significantly connected with dependence on care and frequent hospitalizations.Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe socio-demographic, clinical and psychological profile of frailty older adults living in their own homes and to nursing homes.Methods: The study was conducted with 180 patients who were over 60 years of age, the mean (±SD) was 74.1 (±8.8) years. Among the subjects, 90 individuals were community-dwelling older adults. The survey used a list of socio-demographic questions, as well as the following scales: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), SHARE-FI, and The World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref).Results: Pre-frailty was confirmed in 49 (27.2%) patients, and frailty syndrome was noticed in 47 patients (26.1%). The prevalence of frailty syndrome in the study group was related to: place of living (p &lt; 0.001), age (p &lt; 0.001), widowhood (p &lt; 0.001), a poor economic situation (p &lt; 0.001), basic education level (p &lt; 0.001), living alone (p &lt; 0.001), longer duration of illness (p &lt; 0.001), comorbidities (p &lt; 0.001), more medications taken (p &lt; 0.001), deterioration of hearing (p = 0.003), impairment of cognitive functions (p &lt; 0.001), depression (p &lt; 0.001), and decreased quality of life (p &lt; 0.001).Discussion: A lot of socio-demographic and medical factors, particularly cognitive and mental functioning were connected with the prevalence and progression of frailty syndrome in the study group. Quality of life was significantly dependent on the presence of frailty syndrome, both in homes and in nursing homes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3347-3356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Helena Pereira de Paiva ◽  
Maycon Sousa Pegorari ◽  
Janaína Santos Nascimento ◽  
Álvaro da Silva Santos

Resumo Objetivou-se verificar os fatores socioeconômicos e de saúde associados à qualidade de vida de idosos comunitários. Estudo analítico de corte transversal e quantitativo conduzido entre os anos de 2012 e 2013 com amostra de 3430 idosos residentes em 24 municípios da Macrorregião do Triângulo Sul, MG. Foi utilizado questionário estruturado para variáveis socioeconômicas e de saúde, Escala de Katz e os instrumentos World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD). Procederam-se às análises estatísticas descritiva, bivariada e modelo de regressão linear múltipla (p < 0,05). Constatou-se menores escores de qualidade de vida no domínio meio ambiente associados à ausência de escolaridade e renda, percepção de saúde negativa e incapacidade funcional; e na faceta autonomia à maior idade, ausência de escolaridade, percepção de saúde negativa e incapacidade funcional. O preditor que exerceu maior influência foi a percepção de saúde negativa. Conclui-se que os fatores socioeconômicos e de saúde foram associados à qualidade de vida de idosos, com destaque para os menores escores no domínio meio ambiente e na faceta autonomia e maior influência do preditor percepção de saúde negativa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 103 (8) ◽  
pp. 796-803

Objective: To investigate the relationships among locomotive syndrome, depressive symptoms, and quality of life in older adults living in rural areas. Materials and Methods: The present research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample was 160 community-dwelling older people living in sub-districts under the services of five health promoting hospitals located in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The prospective participants were recruited by Multi-stage random sampling. They had completed instruments, including The Demographic Questionnaire, The 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale, The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, and The World Health Organization Quality of life Questionnaire in Thai Elderly. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s production-moment correlation. Results: The four findings revealed that the locomotive syndrome was found in 50% of participants with the cut-point score of 16 (mean 30.98, SD 14.03), while 26.9% of the participants revealed depressive symptoms (mean 7.07, SD 1.98). The participants had a good quality of life 79.4% (mean 105.12, SD 9.03). There was a positive correlation between locomotive syndrome and depressive symptoms (r=0.47, p<0.01). An inverse correlation was found between the locomotive syndrome and quality of life (r=–0.56, p<0.01) and between depressive symptoms and quality of life (r=–0.46, p<0.01). Conclusion: Findings from the present study would be useful for the health care providers to design interventions to promote physical function along with psychological well-being. Keywords: Locomotive syndrome, Depressive symptoms, Quality of life, Older adults


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 371-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares ◽  
Nayara Cândida Gomes ◽  
Flavia Aparecida Dias ◽  
Nilce Maria de Freitas Santos

Inquérito domiciliar transversal que objetivou mensurar a qualidade de vida de idosos rurais com osteoporose e verificar seus fatores associados. Utilizaram-se os instrumentos: estruturados World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) e Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD). Procedeu-se análise descritiva, teste t-Student, Mann Whitney e regressão linear múltipla (p <0,05). Predominou o perfil: sexo feminino, 60|- 70 anos, casada, 4 |- 8 anos de estudo, renda de 1 salário mínimo, aposentados por idade, dona de casa, regular satisfação das necessidades, casa própria quitada e que moravam com o cônjuge. Os menores escores associaram-se ao maior número de morbidades, à ausência de escolaridade e à menor idade. Evidencia-se a necessidade de ações de acompanhamento e monitoramento das condições de saúde desta população, visando minimizar o impacto na qualidade de vida.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
Sabine Corsten ◽  
Norina Lauer

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults in care facilities face a high risk of experiencing depression. The impact that early interventions like biographical work have on the quality of life for older adults in such facilities is unknown.AimTo develop and evaluate a tablet-supported intervention for biographical work in long-term residential aged care to increase the quality of life for older adults.DesignThe study will be conducted in a randomized pretest–posttest control group design with follow-up testing in group and single settings. Participants will be randomized to the experimental intervention (tablet-supported biographic work) or the control intervention (planned tablet-supported game playing), each guided by senior volunteers. A total of 80 residents and 16 volunteers will be recruited. The primary outcome for the residents and volunteers will be quality of life as measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-for older adults. Secondary measures will be self-esteem and life satisfaction. In addition, we will examine residents’ ability to communicate and their functional independence.MethodThe first stage of the project involves developing an app. The app is developed in a user-centered, agile development process. It will use multimedia to prepare life history topics and links them to key questions. Next, a workshop is developed for the volunteers who accompany the use of the app in the institutions. During the second phase, biographic work stimulated by the app will be conducted in groups or individually with residents.DiscussionThis is the first known program tailored to older adults in care facilities and senior volunteers that aims to prevent depression by providing digitally supported biographic work.


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