Table 1.
Distribution of the elderly by socio-demographic and health related variables in three urban communities in Beirut
| Characteristics | Total % | Hay el Sullum n (%) | Nabaa n (%) | Burj n (%) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socio-demographic | |||||
| Sex | |||||
| Male | 44.6 | 43 (43) | 158 (43.9) | 140 (46.1) | 0.804 |
| Female | 55.4 | 57 (57) | 202 (56.1) | 164 (53.9) | |
| Age, years, mean ± SD | 68.4 ± 6.6 | 67.4 ± 5.9 | 68.9 ± 6.6 | 67.9 ± 6.6 | 0.059 |
| Work status | |||||
| Not working | 82.5 | 85 (85.9) | 302 (83.9) | 243 (79.9) | 0.266 |
| Working | 17.3 | 14 (14.1) | 58 (16.1) | 61 (20.1) | |
| Income* | |||||
| Enough | 53.7 | 22 (22.2) | 188 (52.5) | 141 (46.4) | 0.000 |
| Not enough | 46 | 77 (77.8) | 170 (47.5) | 163 (53.6) | |
| Literacy | |||||
| Any formal schooling | 41.6 | 23 (23) | 175 (48.6) | 120 (39.5) | 0.000 |
| No formal schooling | 58.4 | 77 (77) | 185 (51.4) | 184 (60.5) | |
| Health-related | |||||
| Chronic disease | |||||
| Yes | 73.4 | 72 (72) | 242 (67.8) | 247 (81.3) | 0.000 |
| No | 26.2 | 28 (28) | 115 (32.2) | 57 (18.8) | |
| Disability | |||||
| Yes | 34.1 | 23 (23.2) | 75 (20.9) | 162 (53.5) | 0.000 |
| No | 65.9 | 76 (76.8) | 284 (79.1) | 141 (46.5) | |
| Definite depression | |||||
| No | 74.6 | 83 (88.3) | 281 (78.5) | 205 (69.3) | 0.000 |
| Yes | 23.5 | 11 (11.7) | 77 (21.5) | 91 (30.7) | |
| GHQ | |||||
| <5 | 51.3 | 51 (52) | 183 (51.5) | 158 (52.7) | 0.960 |
| >5 | 47.4 | 47 (48) | 172 (48.5) | 142 (47.3) | |
| Health evaluation | |||||
| Bad | 32.8 | 42 (42.4) | 76 (21.2) | 132 (43.4) | 0.000 |
| Average | 33.1 | 24 (24.2) | 134 (37.3) | 95 (31.3) | |
| Good | 34.0 | 33 (33.3) | 149 (41.5) | 77 (25.3) | |
| Admitted to hospital | |||||
| No | 65.5 | 47 (47) | 236 (65.7) | 217 (71.4) | 0.000 |
| Yes | 34.5 | 53 (53) | 123 (34.3) | 87 (28.6) | |
*
Perceived sufficiency to meet basic needs.
SD = standard deviation; GHQ = General Health Questionnaire.