4147.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 1:06 PM

Abstract #32381

Profile of the elderly with ADL limitations in Egypt: findings and policy implications

A.K. Nandakumar, PhD1, Manjiri Bhawalkar, MA1, and Maha El-Adawi, MD, MPH2. (1) IHA, Abt Associates Inc, 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, 617.520.3537, A.K._Nandakumar@abtassoc.com, (2) Ford Foundation, Cairo, Egypt

A nationally representative sample of individuals is used to examine the prevalence of ADL limitations among the elderly in Egypt, the probability that those with ADL limitations will receive care, and who provides this care. Special attention is paid to role of gender in reporting an ADL limitation and in receiving care. The findings suggest that overall 8% of the elderly reported difficulty in performing one or more ADLs. While females made up 52% of the sample they accounted for 78% of ADL limitations. Males with ADL limitations were three times as likely to be married as compared with females with ADL limitations. Age was significant and positive both for reporting an ADL limitation as well as receiving care. Being married was significant and negatively related to reporting an ADL limitation. Living in an urban area was positively related to reporting an ADL limitation but was negatively related to receiving care. The burden of care giving falls almost exclusively on the women in a household. Over 75% of those with ADL limitations reported receiving assistance from a family member. The high levels of ADL limitations and patterns of care giving highlights the need for developing policies dealing with long-term care financing and service delivery. This is especially important given that the elderly in Egypt will increase both in absolute numbers as well as a proportion of the population and the family structure itself is changing.

Learning Objectives: 1. Application of ADL questions in a developing country household survey. 2. Results from a survey conducted in Egypt using ADL questions. 3. Distribution of ADL limitations among sub-groups in the Egyptian population.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA