Magnitude of unmet healthcare needs to the elderly in temeke district using frailty index
1
Public Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
it is uncertain if the frailty rate of the elderly population in Tanzania (7.3% to 19.1%) matches the rate of unmet health needs of this population; if it does, it will effectively aid in structuring strategic policy vision for their care. Objective is to estimate the magnitude of unmet healthcare needs of the elderly in Temeke District by using the frailty index as a determinant.
METHODS:
an analytical cross-sectional study of 237 elderly population (60+ years) in Temeke district determined the prevalence of unmet health needs using the frailty index. Using a stratified multiple and random sampling, we estimated the prevalence estimates presented by percentage and 95% Confidence Interval. Using IBM SPSS version 25, logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with unmet healthcare needs, presenting Odds Ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS:
the mean age of participants was 69 years ±8SD, and 42.19% (n=100) were women. The prevalence of frailty was 5.06% (n=12;95%CI;2.9 - 8.6), while the proportion of unmet healthcare needs was statistically high at 51.05% (n=121;95%CI;44.7 – 57.6). Distance and transportation challenges were the main barriers to accessing healthcare.
CONCLUSIONS:
the prevalence of frailty was relatively low and may not be a good proxy measure of unmet healthcare needs. It is plausible that those with severe frailty are more likely to die early and, hence, affect the prevalence estimate. A multifaceted approach by a collaboration of health, social welfare, rural/urban development and legal sectors may be necessary to strategize how to estimate the health needs of elderly citizens, hence its use in the policy.
it is uncertain if the frailty rate of the elderly population in Tanzania (7.3% to 19.1%) matches the rate of unmet health needs of this population; if it does, it will effectively aid in structuring strategic policy vision for their care. Objective is to estimate the magnitude of unmet healthcare needs of the elderly in Temeke District by using the frailty index as a determinant.
METHODS:
an analytical cross-sectional study of 237 elderly population (60+ years) in Temeke district determined the prevalence of unmet health needs using the frailty index. Using a stratified multiple and random sampling, we estimated the prevalence estimates presented by percentage and 95% Confidence Interval. Using IBM SPSS version 25, logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with unmet healthcare needs, presenting Odds Ratios and 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS:
the mean age of participants was 69 years ±8SD, and 42.19% (n=100) were women. The prevalence of frailty was 5.06% (n=12;95%CI;2.9 - 8.6), while the proportion of unmet healthcare needs was statistically high at 51.05% (n=121;95%CI;44.7 – 57.6). Distance and transportation challenges were the main barriers to accessing healthcare.
CONCLUSIONS:
the prevalence of frailty was relatively low and may not be a good proxy measure of unmet healthcare needs. It is plausible that those with severe frailty are more likely to die early and, hence, affect the prevalence estimate. A multifaceted approach by a collaboration of health, social welfare, rural/urban development and legal sectors may be necessary to strategize how to estimate the health needs of elderly citizens, hence its use in the policy.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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