title: [Low-income senior citizens in the Municipality of São Carlos, São Paulo State, Brazil: an epidemiological survey].
abstract: This study focuses on the health profile of the elderly population in Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in 2003. The study population consisted of a sample over 60 years of age (n = 523) registered with the Family Health Program and the Unified National Health System. Point and interval prevalence of disabilities and chronic non-communicable diseases and cognitive status were estimated (95%CI). The study population was predominantly female with low education; 24.8% lacked any kind of retirement pension; 43.6% presented a low level of social integration; 46.7% required some form of help for 1 to 3 routine activities; 74.9% presented 1 to 5 chronic non-communicable diseases; and 56.2% scored under 24 on a cognitive test. Some 87.0% had sought health care and 22.4% required some kind of inpatient care. The results confirmed the need for improved professional training, adequacy of health services, and effective public policy to provide qualified health care for the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Barbieri
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Feliciano
authors.forename: Suzana Alves de
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Martins de
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011203:Poverty; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population