Grau de satisfação com a saúde entre idosos do Município de Botucatu, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract

The proportion of elderly people about 60-year-old or more in Brazil, as well as in most parts of the world, has been increasing and gradually narrowing the base of the population pyramid. This proportion produces prevalence of incapacities which are responsible for physical and psychic dependence, compromising the autonomy of elderly people, and consequently getting worse their satisfaction with their own health. This study aimed to associate factors to the level of satisfaction on health in different aspects of life of the elderly population resident in the Municipality of Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2003. This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire, result of a composition of existing instruments in literature, applied in a sample of 365 elderly people chosen by means of systematic sampling, for unknown prevalence and p<0.05. The level of satisfaction on health was measured within a scale from 1 to 7. Analyses were made by logistic regression with the event 'level of satisfaction on health' through ranked analysis in blocks. For each block, the variable results were placed one to one, initiating the process with the one of major magnitude of risk. After the study those significant variables were grouped for block, in a final model of logistic regression. The variables associated with health satisfaction are as follows: to be satisfied with the daily activities of life [OR=5.90 (3.35-10.41)]; to be satisfied with life in general [OR=2.40 (1.35-4.26)]; leisure [OR=2.40 (1.35-4.18)]; and no reference of hypertension [OR=1.90 (1.09-3.31)] and cardiopathy [OR=2.32 (1.21-4.42)]. The satisfaction with health has been associated mainly with autonomy, life and leisure, and no reference of hypertension and cardiopathy.