J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2002 Nov;23(11):1348-1358.

The Difference of Health Status between Urban and Rural Elderly

• Jun JY
• Kim SA
• Park WS
• Oh MK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the difference of health status between urban and rural elderly.
METHODS
This study was carried out with a data of 139 urban elderly and 127 rural elderly. The health status of the elderly was measured by Korean Translated SF-36 (Short Form 36). The independent variables were the demographic characteristics of the elderly and the factors that may have influence on the health status of the elderly.
RESULTS
The multiple regression analysis showed as follows: with respect to physical function (P<0.05), role limitation-physical (P<0.05), bodily pain (P<0.001) the level of health state of the urban elderly was higher than that of the rural elderly. On mental health (P<0.05), the level of the rural elderly was higher than that of the urban elderly.
CONCLUSION
It seemed necessary to improve accessibility to the public health clinics for better physical health care of the rural elderly and to provide specific mental health services for the urban elderly. In addition, primary physicians should give their careful consideration for the differences and then provide the specific health programs for the rural and urban elderly accordingly.

Keyword

urban; rural; elderly; health status; SF-36

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Delivery of Health Care
Health Status
Humans
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
Public Health