Extent and predictors of socio economic deprivation in urban geriatric subjects: evidence from Varanasi, India

Old age Socio Economic Deprivation (SED) is a significant issue because geriatric subjects (60 years and above) are more vulnerable to SED than the other age group. Socio-economic deprivation refers to deprivation in terms of economic parameters, food, water sanitation, shelter and information. The predictors of SED in geriatric subjects have been the least researched area. The objective of the present study was to find out predictors of SED. This study was carried out by adopting a cross-sectional study design on 616 (279 male and 337 female) geriatric subjects (60 years and above) selected by a multistage sampling procedure from urban Varanasi, India. Pre-designed, pre-tested proforma was used for assessing socio-economic deprivation in subjects by using interview techniques. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 22.0. In order to find out predictors of all significant variables in bivariate analysis, viz., associates of socioeconomic deprivation were subjected to a logistic regression model. According to Rangrajan Committee criteria 38.0% subjects were below the poverty line. Food, water and sanitation deprivation were to the extent of 44.8%, 29.2% and 14.8%, respectively. As many as 32.6 % and 40.9% of subjects were deprived of shelter and education, respectively. There existed a significant association of gender, marital status, caste, religion, type of family and literacy status of study subjects with SED. However, the logistic model nullified the significant association of these variables with SED. In comparison to family size < 3 risk of SED was 3.31 (CI: 1.13-9.68) and 10.17 (CI: 2.44-42.45) times more in subjects with family size 3-6 and >6, respectively. When upper, upper middle and lower middle socio-economic status categories were considered as reference it was found that risk for SED was significantly (p<0.01) more in lower and upper lower SES categories. Odds of SED for lower and upper lower SES were 84.13 (CI: 15.9-244.63) and 18.24 (CI: 8.69-38.24) times higher than their counterparts, respectively. People with socioeconomic deprivation need to have focused attention based on the predictors of SED. Limiting family size, ensuring income generation activities and economic security are key inputs for optimum dividends in tackling SED.