Fatores associados à funcionalidade familiar de idosos que residem no interior de Minas Gerais

Abstract

The gradual increase in the elderly population has been a major worldwide phenomenon. With aging, the elderly may need care. Thus, family becomes a key member of informal support networks for the elderly population. However, not all the families are prepared for giving out this type of care, thereby compromising family functionality. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic, economic, and health characteristics of the elderly community; determine the scores of functional capacity and family functionality; and analyze the influence of sociodemographic, economic, and health variables, as well as functional capacity, on family functionality. The study was a transversal and analytical household survey type, conducted on 637 elderly residents in the urban area of the city of Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The instruments used were: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire with information regarding demographic, economic and health aspects built by the Community Health Research Group at the University, Katz Scale, Lawton Scale, and Brody and Apgar Family Scores. The analysis conducted with the tests: distribution of frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, central and dispersion measures for numeric variables, T-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation, and the multiple linear regression model (p <0.05), through the statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19.0. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee, opinion number 493.211. There was a predominance of female elderly (66.6%), age 60├70 years (42.1%), married (42.7%), 1┤5 years of education (51%), income from minimum wages (45.1%) and residing with others (79.7%). Regarding health conditions 39.9% presented regular health perception of 1├7 morbidities (57.5%) being the most prevalent: hypertension (65.6%), visual problems (61.4%), back problems (49.3%) and arthritis/ osteoarthritis (39.1%), absence of falls (73.2%) and hospitalizations (82.1%). Concerning basic daily life activities (ABVD'S), 76.9% of the elderly are independent and, for instrumental activities (AIVD'S), 62% are dependent. Regarding Family Functionality: 87.8% of families are highly functional, 5.8% are moderately dysfunctional, and 6.4% had marked dysfunction. Factors consolidated as associated with family functioning were, respectively: health perception (p <0.001), age (p = 0.003), falls (p = 0.004) and depression (p = 0.007). The detection of factors that generate family dysfunction provides healthcare professionals with directed planning actions in order to prevent or re-establish the balance of intra-family ties, promoting the welfare of the elderly and their families.