HIV/AIDS and the health of older people in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya: results from a cross sectional survey

• Main Authors: Zulu Eliya (Author), Ezeh Alex C (Author), Kyobutungi Catherine (Author), Falkingham Jane (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2009-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The proportion of older people is increasing worldwide. Globally, it is estimated that older people (those 60 years or older) constitute more than 11% of the population. As the HIV/AIDS pandemic rages in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), its impact on older people needs closer attention given the increased economic and social roles older people have taken on as a result of increased mortality among adults in the productive age groups. Few studies have looked at older people and their health in SSA or indeed the impact of HIV/AIDS on their health. This study aims to assess the effect of being directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS on the health of older people in two Nairobi slums.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected from residents of the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance area aged 50 years and above on 1^stOctober 2006. Health status was assessed using the short SAGE (Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health) form and two outcome measures - self-rated health and a composite health score - were generated. To assess HIV/AIDS affected status, respondents were asked: <it>Have you personally been affected by HIV/AIDS? </it>If yes, a follow up question: "<it>How have you been personally affected by HIV/AIDS?" </it>was asked. Ordinallogistic regression was used in models with self-rated health and linear regression in models with the health score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>About 18% of respondents reported being affected by HIV/AIDS in at least one way, although less than 1% reported being infected with HIV. Nearly 60% of respondents reported being in good health, 27% in fair health and 14% in poor health. The overall mean health score was 70.6 (SD: 13.9) with females reporting worse health outcomes than males.</p> <p>Respondents directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS reported worse health outcomes than those not affected: mean health score: 68.5 and 71.1 respectively (t = 3.21, p = 0.0007), and an adjusted odds ratio of reporting poor health of 1.42 (95%CI: 1.12-1.80).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Poor health outcomes among older people affected by HIV/AIDS highlight the need for policies that target them in the fight against HIV/AIDS if they are to play their envisaged care giving and other traditional roles.</p>

Item Description

10.1186/1471-2458-9-153
1471-2458