Perfil da população idosa de Palmeira das Missões, RS: desafios na gestão pública em saúde

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed at characterizing the socio-demographic profile of the elderly people in Plameira das Missões, RS, Brazil, by signaling the challenges to the management system. Methods: The research was quantitative, descriptive and transversal; the population investigated was made of men and women; and the variables analyzed were: socio-demographic data (such as age, sex, marital status, educational background and income) and lifestyles (alcoholism, smoking and physical exercise). Results: Four hundred and twenty-four (424) elderly people participated in the study, being 68.4% of them women who aged from 60 to 69 years old. There were more individuals at the age of 80 than from 75 to 80 years old which showed that the elderly population is increasing. The marital status was mostly married, and the majority had studied for less than 05 years. The family income varied from 01 to 02 minimum wages, and with two dependent people. The main expenses were related to feeding, health/drugs, and 75.7% of them made use of daily drugs while 71.3% took from 01 to 03 drugs a day. Most of them did not consume alcoholic drinks, neither smoked, and 48.3% of the elderly people did not practice regular physical exercises. Conclusions: Due to the profile of the elderly people who participated in this study being of low income and poorer education, and bearing in mind that most of their expenses were related to feeding and health/drugs, it is understood that the public health management has great challenges with ageing, among them, enabling technicians and professionals, developing inclusive policies which valuing more the elderly, as well as their caregivers and relatives, by offering adequate support.