A Survey Of The Rural Elderly Nutrition State In Tongzhou District Of Beijing And Analysis Of The Related Factors

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to examine the nutritional levels of the rural elderly population in Tongzhou district of Beijing, to identify those at risk of malnutrition and those suffering from malnutrition, to analyze the influencing factors and best predictors of rural elder nutrition, so as to provide the basis for the formulation of effective preventive measures, improve the nutrition and health of the elderly in rural areas, enhance their QOL(the quality of life), and realize the health aging society.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive correlation design was employed. 300 elderly people were selected by random and convenient sampling method from 5 rural communities in Tongzhou district of Beijing. Five questionnaires were administered to ascertain the socio-demographic characteristics, including their nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale, MNA and Mini -Nutritional Assessment - Short Form, MNA-SF), functional status(Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale, IADL), and depressive status (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS). Ordial Logistic regression and Stepwise multiple linear regression were utilized to identify influencing factors and best predictors.Results.1. The nutrition state of rural elderly people: The mean score of MNA was 22.70±3.83, with 41.4% of the subjects in normal nutrition state, 51.0% at risk of malnutrition and 7.7% malnourished; The mean score of MNA-SF was 11.09±2.28 ,with 60.9% in normal nutrition state and 39. 1% malnourished. Spearman's correlation analysis demonstrated that MNA and MNA -SF had significant Linear correlations with nutrition. The Spearman 's correlation coefficient of MNA and MNA-SF is 0.665. According to Body Mass Index, 5.4% were underweight and 27.2% overweight.2. Factors influencing rural elderly people's nutrition: Statistical analysis indicated that the nutrition state of the rural elderly population was significantly correlated with the following factors: marital status, income, financial dominance, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, degree of depression, self-care ability, access to health education, chronic disease, self-perceived health status (P<0.05), but not significantly correlated with age, sex, number of children, living status, filial piety of children (P>0.05). The result of multiple regression suggested that the main influencing factors, from high to low, were financial dominance, self-perceived health status, access to health education, chronic disease and degree of depressionConclusions The study has suggested that a large proportion of the rural elderly are at risk of malnutrition, and that overnutrition coexists with malnutrition. Therefore, nutrition remains a problem among the elderly in the rural communities in China. The nutrition state of the rural elderly population in Tongzhou district is good and is better than that of those in other rural areas in China, but worse than that of those living in the city proper. These results would be much helpful to rural community health nurses and other concerned organizations in determining appropriate and efficient interventions to promote the nutrition and health of elder people.