Prevalence of chronic health conditions among the elderly: A study in urban fringe village, Birkona of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh

The global population is ageing rapidly. One of the main goals of mankind has been to combat its population’s physical and mental well-being, especially focusing on children and older adults. India is also undergoing a fast demographic transition. Ageing issues are continuing with little changes, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare resources is limited. The present study investigates the prevalence of common health issues like BP, Diabetes, joint problems, eyesight, etc, of the elderly of Birkona, an urban fringe village, located in the Bilaspur city of Chhattisgarh, India. The Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews and health screening targeting individuals aged 60+. The sample size is 100. The study reveals that Hypertension is the most prevalent condition (66%) followed by diabetes (30%), hearing loss (13%), and eye problems (12%). Other morbidities included loss of speech, paralysis, and joint issues (each at 5%). Females reported higher prevalence across most conditions, with significant gender differences observed in eye problems (p=0.002), hearing loss (p=0.037), and joint issues (p=0.022). No significant gender differences were found for hypertension, diabetes, paralysis, or loss of speech. The findings underscore the need to strengthen the targeted healthcare interventions and community support system, popularly known as social capital, to address these health issues effectively by improving access to medical care, promoting healthy lifestyles, and providing necessary and affordable resources.