Active Aging And Its Interface With Social Determinants Of Health

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between active aging and social determinants of health in older people living in the catchment area of a primary health care facility. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess exposure variables of the schematic model by Dahlgren and Whitehead; the outcome variable active aging was created by means of latent class analysis. Participants were categorized as highly, moderately, and minimally active. Data analysis was performed using a forward multinomial regression model. RESULTS: Overall, 155 elderly people participated in the study, most of them classified as highly active. Older subjects had a higher chance for being minimally active (OR = 5.72) and moderately active (OR = 3.27). Lack of a family life (OR = 3.90) and education level of 4 years or less (OR = 2.90) were shown to be risk factors for moderate levels of active aging. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that advanced age, lack of family life, and an education level of 4 years or less were associated with a higher chance for elderly attending Family Health Strategy units to present low levels of active aging. It is suggested that these factors should be taken into account when directing public policies aimed at active aging.

Keywords

• epidemiology
• aging
• health of the elderly
• social determinants of health