Palestinian elderly women's needs and their physical and mental health
Date
2012-07-04
Authors
Imam, Asma
Al-Khatib, Najah
Amro, Akram
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ms Lesley Pocock medi+WORLD International
Abstract
is a descriptive study that was conducted on 50 Palestinian elderly women whose ages were above 65 years. Open- ended, face-to-face, tape recorded interviews were used as a method for data collection. The sample was selected conveniently through personal contacts and health centers at various living localities of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The interviews were transcribed verbatim then analyzed using appropriate themes and categories, then simple calculations with percentages and count of responses were done for each of the questions of the interview. Results indicated that (42%) of the participants reported having limitation of movement and mobility caused by some musculoskeletal problem; 60% had cardiovascular problems, 34% had diabetes, and 28% had respiratory illnesses. The data indicated that the majority of the participants (92%) have some kind of social connectedness with family members and the local community. The main role the participants is routine work at home such as cleaning, cooking, and other house chores, as reported by 28 (56%) of the participants. Thirty-one (62%) participants said that they spend quite a lot of time in praying and sometimes reading the Quran. The main feelings of the participants are located under “a depressive” symptom, anxiety-related, or loss of control and autonomy, however; there was a variation in the severity of these symptoms. While 44% of the respondents were thankful to God and appreciative that their lives are satisfying and they were content for whatever they get from life and family, 20% of the participants were waiting for death to come, had death ideation or wished to die.