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Community and Public Health Nursing

Volume  5, Issue 1, January – April 2020, Pages 31-34
 

Original Article

Prevalence of Malnutrition among Geriatric Population

R Amutha1, T Nanthini2

1 M.Sc. Nursing, 2 Associate Professor, Department of Community, Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Mother Theresa Post Graduate & Research Institute of Health Sciences, Gorimedu, Puducherry 605006, India.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/cphn.2455.8621.5120.5

Abstract

Worldwide, malnutrition is a major problem. Children, Pregnant mothers and Elderly are vulnerable to malnutrition due to physiological and functional changes. The intervention programs are directed towards children and pregnant mothers and often elderly people are neglected. But there has been a substantial rise in elderly population globally. The physiological changes of ageing like limited mobility, sensory impairment negatively affects the nutritional status. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive survey method was used. A total number of 60 samples were selected by using purposive sampling technique and the data were
collected by using Mini Nutritional Status Assessment (MNA) tool. Results: Out of 60 subjects, majority(68.4%) of them in the age group of 60–74 years, 70% of them were females, most of them were not educated and not working. Majority 49 (81.7%) of the geriatric were at the risk of malnutrition, 10 (19.7%) had malnutrition and only one in normal nutritional status. there was an significant association (p-value <0.05) between the level of nutritional status of geriatric population with comorbid condition as arthritis. Conclusion: The study revealed that the risk of malnutrition was high among geriatric people. As aging process increase immunity decrease and intake of food decrease hence they are at risk of getting malnutrition. The proper care and nutrition should be provided to geriatric people at their rest of their life. The government
welfare measures should to reach every geriatric people. As a community health nurse should educate the family members and the community to give importance for geriatric people.
 


Keywords : Malnutrition; Geriatric people.
Corresponding Author : T Nanthini