Unveiling Barriers to Geriatric Wellbeing in Rural Delhi
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17140/phoj-11-783Keywords:
Geriatric population, Barriers, Healthcare system, Socio-economic factors, Rural DelhiAbstract
Background: The geriatric population in rural Delhi often faces barriers that hinder effective management of common health problems. This survey aimed to identify personal, healthcare system, and socio-economic barriers. Methods: A descriptive survey design was employed, encompassing 120 geriatric individuals aged 60 years and above residing in the rural area of Delhi. Data were collected using a structured rating scale, and the findings were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Personal barriers included difficulty reading medicine labels (20.00% always, 45.00% sometimes) and inadequate knowledge of illness and treatment (13.33% always, 49.17% sometimes). Healthcare system barriers included inadequate geriatric-friendly services (25.83% always, 35.00% sometimes) and infrequent healthcare utilization (6.67% always, 53.33% sometimes). Socio-economic barriers were dominated by financial dependency (37.50% always, 33.33% sometimes) and lack of social support (10.83% always, 25.83% sometimes). Conclusion: Addressing these barriers requires improved health education, accessible geriatric services, and strengthened family and community support.
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