The Prevalence of Disability and Its Relationship With the Demographic Characteristics of the Elderly in Gonabad City, Iran, in 2019

Aims: Disability reduces the independence and quality of life in the elderlies and it increases their independence and causes increased need of support, more admittance in nursing homes and early death. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of disability and its relationship with the demographic characteristics. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was performed on 470 elderly people aged 60 and over living in Gonabad by random stratified sampling. Data collection tools included a demographic profile questionnaire and a standardized questionnaire from the WHO to assess disability in the elderly. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS software version 14.5 and the Kai Scoyer test and ranked logistic regression. Significant levels of less than 0.05 were considered Findings: 35.6% of the elderly had very low disability, 40.6% had low disability, 15.2% had moderate disability and 8.6% had severe disability. Age (P<0.001), sex (P=0.03), literacy level (P<0.001), and background history (P<0.001) were significant predictors of elderly disability Conclusion: There is a relationship between disability and its level with aging. According to the growth in elderly’s population, paying attention to health and reducing disability and promoting their life’s quality is necessary.