Nutritional status in poor rural elderly in six elderly centres in rural Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Nutrition plays a vital role throughout life course and is especially important at extremes of life for preventing morbidity and premature mortality due to disease. Elderly population have to deal with various physical, psychological, social and financial conditions influencing their nutrition and quality of life. RUHSA hospital takes care of health and socio-economic development of 138,000 population of the K V Kuppam block (an administrative unit of government). In response to the community's needs of taking care of elderly population left behind to fend for themselves due to their children moving out for jobs or being too insecure financially to take care of their parents, the poorest of the poor elderly were chosen by RUHSA to provide least a nutritious meal per day, yearly medical check-up and a facility (elderly centre) for group exercises, social participation and exchanging life experiences. Nutritional assessment was done for all elderly chosen under this scheme. Methods: Data on Socio-demographic characteristics, weight and height was collected and 24-hour dietary recall method was used to collect data on food variety and quantitative intake. These were used to assess the nutritional status in terms of BMI and nutritional deficiencies. Results: In the six elderly centres under RUHSA, nutritional assessment was done for 49 elderly individuals of which 39 (79.6%) were females. The mean age of elderly population was 67.2 + 7.3 years, 40 (81.6%) were Hindus and rest Christians. Except one, all belonged to backward castes. 40 (81.6%) lived in their own houses and rest in relatives' house or unused public shelters. 32 (65.3%) were illiterate and all were currently unemployed. Old age pension by government was only source of income for 37 (75.5%) of elderly and rest had no means of subsistence. Nutritional status assessment revealed that 22 (44.9%) of elderly were underweight and all of the were practically under nourished with total calorie deficiency, protein and fat deficiency. Micro-nutrient deficiency was seen among all with specific deficiency of vit. B2, Vitamin C, iron and zinc. Conclusion: Poor nutritional status and micronutrient deficiency was common among the poor elderly population of rural Tamil Nadu, India.