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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, 333 East Superior, Suite 490, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-320-6222, simonmelissa@yahoo.com and XinQi Dong, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics, Rush University Medical Center, 710 South Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612.

Background: Little is known in western literature regarding older women's health in China. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed in a major urban medical center in NanJing, China. Results: 141 patients participated in this survey. The mean age of the participants was 69 years. Their mean education was 6.2 years. The average monthly income was 895RMB ($110US). 68% were married. 31% were illiterate. Fair or poor self-rated health status accounted for 44%. 24% had heart disease, 14% had chronic lung disease, 24% had diabetes, 35% had hypertension and 29% had gastrointestinal disease. 32% of participants were dependent with ADL's. 28% were dependent with IADL's. Depression was prevalent in approximately 19% of the women. 45% felt that they lacked companionship. 50% reported feeling isolated from others. In terms of social support and network, 48% reported they needed someone whom they could count on to listen to them. 45% needed someone available to give advice about a problem. 31% reported often feeling a lack of love and affection. 37% often felt in need of emotional support. 31% of participants felt they needed someone with whom they could trust and confide. Elder abuse and neglect was prevalent in about 42% of the participants. 16% of all of these women had personally experienced violent crimes. Conclusion: Depression, loneliness, low social support, elder abuse and neglect and violent crimes are prevalent among elderly Chinese women presenting to urban medical clinics in China. Further studies are needed to explore these findings and propose interventions.

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