title: Factors associated with self-reported ill health among older Ugandans: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is limited research on the prevalence and factors associated with self-reported ill health among older people in Uganda.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Therefore, the aim of this paper was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported ill health and to identify associated risk factors among older people (age 50+) in Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted secondary analysis of a cross sectional survey data from a weighted sample of 2382 older persons from the 2010 Uganda National Household survey. We used frequency distributions for descriptive statistics, chi-square tests (significance set at 95%) to identify initial associations and multivariable logistic regressions reporting odds ratios to examine observed associations with self-reported ill health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half (62%) of the older people reported ill health in the 30 days preceding the survey. Self-reported ill health was positively associated with being a woman, being among the oldest old, living in the eastern region, being a household head, being Catholic, self-reported non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and being disabled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differentials exist in self-reported ill health among older persons in Uganda.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda; Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA Cohort 2) Fellow, Program Based at the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address: swandera@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stephen Ojiambo
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Wandera
authors.affiliation: Institut National D'etudes Demographiques (INED), 133 Boulevard Davout, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Golaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kwagala
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Studies, School of Statistics and Planning, College of Business and Management Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ntozi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Elderly; Health status; Self-rated health; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda