SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF ELDERLY WELL-BEING IN IJUMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Globally, the population of the elderly (≥ 65 years) is on the increase and their well-being is becoming a public health concern. The elderly are more at risk of the scourge of poverty because there is no social security approved to provide support in old age. However, information on factors influencing the well-being of the elderly is scarce. Consequently, this study was conducted to identify the socio-demographic determinants of well-being of the elderly in Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA), Kogi State, Nigeria. The study was cross-sectional in design. A 3-stage (political ward, community, household) sampling technique was used to select 1217 consenting elderly persons from 15 wards in ljumu LGA. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and well-being. Each of the four domains of well-being (physical, psychological, social, and environmental) was assessed using a 5- point Likert scale. Overall well-being was derived by summing up scores for the four domains with each domain having a maximum score of twenty. Median score was used to disaggregate the overall well being scores into good (> 12.2) or poor (≤ 12.2). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, anova test and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. The mean age of the respondents was 72.3 ± 8.4 years, 96.5% were Yoruba, 65.2% were females, 71.3% were currently married and 69.3% were Christians. A small proportion (18.3%) had at least secondary education while 52.5% had no formal education. More than half (55.3%) of the elderly had poor overall well-being: physical (41.0%), psychological (46.7%), social (51.1 %), and environmental (52.9%). Age, gender, marital status, level of education, family type, past occupation, current working status, current occupation, current place of work and reasons why not currently working were significantly associated with elderly good well-being. The risk of good well-being among the elderly decreased with age. Elderly males were 1.5 times as likely as females to experience good well-being (OR=l.5 , C.I=l.2-1.9). Elderly who were currently married were 2.3 times as likely to experience good well-being as those who are not currently married (OR=2.3, C.I=1.8-3.0). The likelihood of good well-being among elderly with no formal education was only 20% of those with at least secondary level education (OR,=0.2, C.I=0.1-0.3). Elderly who were from monogamous families were 1.6 times as likely to experience good well-being as their counterparts from polygamous families (OR= 1.6, C.I=1.3-2.0). The working elderly were 2.1 times as likely to experience good well-being as those not currently working (OR= 2.1, C.I= 1.7-2.7). The odds of good well-being among self employed was 50% of those who were working in either private or public establishments (OR=0.5, C.I=0.4-0.8). The overall well-being of elderly in the community was fair and elderly ≥85 years old were most at risk. Marital status, education, family type and work status are major factors influencing elderly well-being. The Government should develop health and financial policies aimed at improving well-being of the elderly.