Abstract
Background: Health and social conditions of spouseless people are less studied than other people.
Objective: We assessed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of spouseless people aged 50+ years and self-reported morbidity and health service use in rural Bangladesh.
Methods: We identified 1,456 spouseless people from Abhoynagar and 2,016 from Mirsarai sub-districts in 2009 where a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) has been operating since 1984 and 1995 respectively. Information on their self-reported morbidity and health care utilization in the past two weeks was extracted from HDSS database. Social prejudices with spouseless people were obtained through focus group discussions.
Results: Majority (90%) of the spouseless people were above 65 years and females in both areas. Majority were staying in extended nuclear families and labour force. Coverage of the social safety net program was <20%. Self-reported non-communicable diseases were widely prevalent and were the main reasons for medical consultations. Widow women faced societal prejudice.
Conclusions: Attention to increase social safety net program and remove social prejudice is needed.
Objective: We assessed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of spouseless people aged 50+ years and self-reported morbidity and health service use in rural Bangladesh.
Methods: We identified 1,456 spouseless people from Abhoynagar and 2,016 from Mirsarai sub-districts in 2009 where a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) has been operating since 1984 and 1995 respectively. Information on their self-reported morbidity and health care utilization in the past two weeks was extracted from HDSS database. Social prejudices with spouseless people were obtained through focus group discussions.
Results: Majority (90%) of the spouseless people were above 65 years and females in both areas. Majority were staying in extended nuclear families and labour force. Coverage of the social safety net program was <20%. Self-reported non-communicable diseases were widely prevalent and were the main reasons for medical consultations. Widow women faced societal prejudice.
Conclusions: Attention to increase social safety net program and remove social prejudice is needed.
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Event ID
17
Paper presenter
48 755
Type of Submissions
Regular session presentation, if not selected I agree to present my paper as a poster
Language of Presentation
English
Initial First Choice
Initial Second Choice
Weight in Programme
1 000
Status in Programme
1