DIFFERENCES IN DIETARY PATTERNS OF OLDER WOMEN IN UPPER SILESIA DUE TO THEIR FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL SITUATION

Background. Dietary patterns represent a set of many characteristic features occurring simultaneously and describing the way of eating that demonstrates a relationship with health. They are subject to changes and show a relationship with a socio-economic situation. The aim of this study was to assess variations in dietary patterns of older women from Upper Silesia resulting from their financial and social status. A cross-sectional study using face-to-face interviews was conducted in June and July 2024 among 209 women aged 60 and over from the Silesian Province. An FCF scale, which was adapted from the Kom-PAN questionnaire, was used to assess the frequency of consumption of 23 food groups. Demographic characteristics were assessed using questions on age, place of residence and household structure. For the economic and social characteristics, the respondents were asked about the self-assessment of financial situation, the use of family and social financial support, social activity and social relations. Based on the frequency of food consumption, three diet quality indices were calculated and eight dietary patterns were identified using a factor analysis. The Kruskal-Walis test and Chi2 test were used to assess the significance of differences between variables. Results and conclusions. The study group was characterized by a higher unhealthy diet index (nHDI) than a health-promoting diet index (pHDI). The pHDI result was associated with the higher intensity of ―prudent DPs, such as ―meatless protein and wholegrain products and ―dairy products, fruit and vegetables; whereas the nHDI result with the higher intensity of ―imprudent DPs, such as: ―traditional products ―red meat and fats, ―fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages, but also with ―milk and dairy drinks. The results of the study showed that the relationship between poorer financial situation, the need for family and social financial supportand lower social activity of older women on the one hand, and the lower intensity of health-promoting dietary patterns and the higher intensity of ―unfavorable ones on the other, is inconclusive. Further research on assessing the relationship between dietary patterns and economic and social characteristics of the elderly will increase knowledge of it and allow for its inclusion in the educational and intervention programs being developed.