Self-care Ability and Demographic Characteristics among Older Adults in the Urban and Rural Areas of Miandoab, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: Self-care helps older adults manage their health and stay independent by delaying disability. This study aimed to study the self-care ability and demographic characteristics of older adults in urban and rural areas of Miandoab. Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017, encompassing a total of 620 older adults aged 60 years and above. Participants: Eligible older adults were selected using stratified random sampling method from both urban and rural healthcare centers located in Miandoab, Iran. The data collection instruments comprised a demographic questionnaire and self-care ability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 18 software employing t-tests and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of self-care was higher in the physical dimension of the older adults living in rural areas (80.64±0.81), males (90.69±1.00), married elderly (90.87±0.75), illiterate elderly (94.67±1.08), employed individuals (91.78±0.98), those with less than 65 years old (95.18±0.69), and old adults with an income level of more than 2 million (93.36±1.56). Moreover, a statistically significant difference was observed (P<0.05). Conclusions: Demographic factors such as the place of residence, marriage, economic sufficiency, and lifestyle influenced the level of self-care. The findings suggest providing measures to improve the quality of life of older adults. The members of the rural family physicians’ health team and healthcare providers in urban areas should play a more substantial role in training and improving self-care