Vulnerabilidade física entre idosos: diferencias por sexo

Abstract

To identify vulnerable seniors and physically demarcate the differences by sex in relation to sociodemographic and clinical variables. A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. The study population comprised elderly resident enrolled in a health district of Joao Pessoa area -Paraíba. The sample consisted of 138 elderly. Data were collected through structured interview, conducted in the period from January to March 2014. This study highlights the prevalence of 47.1% physical vulnerability among the elderly, these 70.8% were female and presented problems health, mobility and difficulty in performing activities of daily living. The identification of vulnerable elderly individuals is relevant to sucintar reflections on the topic and encourages other researchers, professionals and students to go deeper in the subject, in order to obtain new information and thus enrich the studies on the subject proposal.Keywords: Nursing; Health vulnerability; Aged; Aging. RESUMENEl objetivo de este estúdio consiste em identificar las personas mayores vulnerables y físicamente demarcar las diferencias por sexo en relación con las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas. Estudio descriptivo, transversal, con abordaje cuantitativo. La población de estudio estuvo constituida anciano residente inscrito en un distrito de salud de área Joao PessoaAntropología Vulnerabilidade física entre idosos: diferencias por sexo Vulnerabilidad física en ancianos: diferencias por sexo

Vulnerability of the elderly: a conceptual analysis

“…Another important precedent evidenced in the literature was gender, since the highest morbidity rates are verified among women. In addition, there is also the need for health care and the greater likelihood of living in poverty compared to men (21)(22)(23) . A Canadian study of elderly people living in the community showed that life expectancy among women was negatively affected by social issues such as isolation, economic adversity and loneliness, which culminated in lower resources and less social support (24) .…”

“…Studies developed in Brazil have identified the routine activities that the elderly reported to have the greatest difficulty in performing, such as: shopping without assistance from third parties, performing light domestic tasks, taking responsibility for personal finances and bathing alone (23,29) . It should be noted that the elderly who have experienced a decline in functional status are vulnerable to adverse health outcomes, such as increased risk of hospitalization, institutionalization and early mortality.…”

“…However, low incomes associated with health problems challenge independence, culminating in a deleterious effect on quality of life, particularly for those who attach great importance to individualism and self-determination (19) . It is also emphasized that social issues, such as the low value of pensions, which cannot provide adequate social conditions, being alone, age discrimination, low schooling and little involvement with the community, may predispose the vulnerability (23) .…”