Shekhar Chauhan1, Samriddhi S Gupte2, Shubham Kumar3, Ratna Patel4. 1. Department of Population Policies and Programmes, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India. 2. Max Institute of Healthcare Management, Indian School of Business, Mohali, India. Electronic address: samriddhi.gupte2907@gmail.com. 3. Department of Mathematical Demography & Statistics, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India. 4. Department of Public Health and Mortality Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: ratnapatelbhu@gmail.com.
Abstract
AIMS: This study estimates the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among older adults and brings forth the urban-rural differentials in the said morbidities. The treatment-seeking approach of older adults is also looked at with regard to hypertension and diabetes. METHODS: Study utilized Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) data. Logistic regression was used to check the likelihood of hypertension and diabetes with socioeconomic and demographic variables. Fairlie's decomposition technique was applied to check the difference in the probability of hypertension and diabetes between rural and urban areas by estimating contributions of a group (rural-urban) differences. RESULTS: Study noted a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among elderly residing in urban areas than their rural counterparts. Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was higher among those aged 70+, elderly females, less educated, and non-poor. Education status alone accounts for more than four-fifths (88.62%) and more than half (52.02%) of the inequality in the prevalence of urban-rural hypertension and diabetes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Since treatment-seeking is relatively low among elderly in poor households, practices must be identified for a poverty-stricken elderly population to overcome the financial barriers that may prevent the elderly from seeking and complying with treatment.
AIMS: This study estimates the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among older adults and brings forth the urban-rural differentials in the said morbidities. The treatment-seeking approach of older adults is also looked at with regard to hypertension and diabetes. METHODS: Study utilized Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) data. Logistic regression was used to check the likelihood of hypertension and diabetes with socioeconomic and demographic variables. Fairlie's decomposition technique was applied to check the difference in the probability of hypertension and diabetes between rural and urban areas by estimating contributions of a group (rural-urban) differences. RESULTS: Study noted a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among elderly residing in urban areas than their rural counterparts. Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was higher among those aged 70+, elderly females, less educated, and non-poor. Education status alone accounts for more than four-fifths (88.62%) and more than half (52.02%) of the inequality in the prevalence of urban-rural hypertension and diabetes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Since treatment-seeking is relatively low among elderly in poor households, practices must be identified for a poverty-stricken elderly population to overcome the financial barriers that may prevent the elderly from seeking and complying with treatment.