Abstract:
The basic needs of elderly people in society appears to be ignored or not sufficiently
prioritized, Particularly, the elderly are not given adequate care in line with their
nutritional needs due to food insecurity. This study was conducted in Birim Central
Municipality. To investigate a prevalence of diet related health problems of the
elderly, and the socio-economic determinants of these problems. The research
methods used for the study were survey, and observation. The study employed the
cross-sectional design. Two hundred (200) elderly people were purposively sampled
from ten (10) conveniently selected settlements in the municipality. Questionnaire and
observation checklist with calculated Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.79
were used as research instruments to collect data. The quantitative data was analyzed
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software. The study
revealed that less than 23% of the elderly suffered nutritional and diet related health
problems, such as hypertension, overweight/obesity, weight loss, and constipation.
The study identified poor place of residence, food or diet restrictions, weak social
support system, and food unavailability as the determinants of these nutrition and
health problems of the elderly. All indications from this study shows that many
elderly people in the society are not given adequate care in line with their nutritional
and basic needs and that the basic needs appears to be ignored or not sufficiently
prioritized.The study recommended that caretakers and families of the elderly in the
municipality should always provide adequate food to the elderly people. They should
improve the feeding practices and nutrient content of foods given to elderly by
feeding them with the right amount of carbohydrate, protein, and vitamin-giving
foods three times or more in a day; and giving them adequate fresh fruits, vegetable
and water.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of Home Economics Education, Faculty of Science Education, submitted to the
School of Graduate Studies, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of
Master of Philosophy
(Home Economics Education) Degree
in the University of Education, Winneba
DECEMBER, 2019