title: Prevalence of self-neglect in the caseloads of public health nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extent of self-neglect on public health nurses' (PHNs) caseloads in Ireland is unknown. People who self-neglect may be vulnerable or hidden and, as a consequence, difficult to profile. PHNs in Ireland profile their areas to identify the nursing needs of their population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to: collate caseloads on self-neglect on the basis of a review of community profile and health need assessments (CPHNA) and identify the geographical and demographic factors within which self-neglect cases were found.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the CPHNA of student PHNs (n=88) was undertaken from 2010 to 2014 in a university in Ireland. In all, 88 community profiles were manually reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 374 self-neglect cases were identified-79 cases were aged between 18-64 years and 295 were over 65 years. The range of self-neglect cases per profiled area was between 0 to 25. The geographic and demographic factors linked to self-neglect across profiles were higher rates of older people, deprivation, disadvantage, and cultural factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective review illustrates that self-neglect is a prominent feature in PHN caseloads, which has not been identified previously. Early identification is important to promote the mental health and wellbeing of self-neglecting clients.
authors.affiliation: College Lecturer, at School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Science Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary Rose
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: College Lecturer, at School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Science Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mulcahy
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, at School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Science Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leahy-Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019090:Case Management; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D064689:Nurses, Public Health / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Republic of Ireland; assessment of health care needs; prevalence; public health nurses; self-neglect