Abstract:
Objective To analyze the current status of self-care ability of economically disadvantaged older adults over 60 years old in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. Methods Using multistage stratified sampling, 3 724 older adults were surveyed in Kangle County of the region from December 2021 to May 2022, and the influencing factors of self-care ability were explored using multi-classified unordered logistic regression analysis according to the Specification for the Assessment of Elderly People ' s Ability (Draft for Public Comments). Results Ability was intact in 44 (1.2%), mildly disabled in 2 316 (64.0%), moderately disabled in 828 (22.8%), moderately severely disabled in 320 (8.8%), and severely disabled in 116 (3.2%). Gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, marital status, diagnosis of disease, obesity level, age group, falls, choking, pressure sores, joint mobility, wound condition, missing loose teeth, dysphagia, ineffective airway clearance, and basis for change in competency class had an effect on the final class of competency of the elderly (all P < 0.05). Multi-classified unordered logistic regression analysis showed that marital status (severe disability, OR=0.269, 95% CI: 0.091-0.793), disease diagnosis (severe disability, OR=0.283, 95% CI: 0.125-0.643), degree of obesity (severe disability, OR=5.867, 95% CI: 1.443-23.862), age group (severe disability, OR=6.036, 95% CI: 2.488-14.643), joint mobility (severe disability, OR=17.337, 95% CI: 5.067-59.320), loose tooth defect (severe disability, OR=3.678, 95% CI: 1.487-9.096), pressure ulcer (severe disability, OR=43.535, 95% CI: 1.273-1 488.906) were the influencing factor of the final level of the ability of the elderly. Conclusion The incapacity rate of economically disadvantaged older people over 60 years old in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, reaches 98.8%, and great attention should be paid to their elderly care services and health needs.