HEALTH CONDITION SELF-REPORTED AND FUNCTIONAL AUTONOMY AMONG THE ELDERLY IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Abstract

This study purpose was to ascertain the condition of health that according to the level of functional autonomy among the elderly northeastern <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Brazil .. The sample included 35 elderly patients with a mean average age of 62.60 ± 7.45 years, randomly selected, living in homes located in the urban area of Itabuna and registered in the Association of the Elderly Itabuna . For the evaluation procedure, developed by a questionnaire applied individually. Data analysis procedures were used descriptive statistics (means, frequencies and percentages) using the program R 2.6.2. The population studied, 89% (n = 31) belong to the female contrasts with only 11% (n = 4) male. Among the respondents, the low prevailing socioeconomic classification, approximately 73% of the elderly are of class D and E, plus a few years of study, 82% have not completed the 2nd grade. In assessing the condition of self-reported health, 49% (n = 17) reported regular health condition (neither bad nor good) and the majority 51% n = 18) concerns his state of health as positive (good or very good ). In this research we can observe that the condition of health that did not influence the functional autonomy, as the interviewees all have high autonomy in the conduct of activities of daily living regardless of the condition of health said. Among the elderly participants in the study, self-perception of health status is not presented as a protective factor against the functional is recommended, therefore, further research in this area in order to better clarify the issues here.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />