Velhismo no município de Natal/RN: ocorrência e fatores relacionados

Abstract

The idea that aging causes various chronic diseases, loss of self-esteem, the outer beauty, reflexes and memory still remains in society. The lack of knowledge about aging, reinforced the cult of youth is enough to form stereotypes and prejudices against them. This kind of discrimination is called ageism. In this context, this study aimed to verify the occurrence of ageism and factors related to it in the reality of non-institutionalized elderly. This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, involving 188 individuals aged 60 years or older who were chosen for convenience in a sample by quotas. It was used for data collection a questionnaire containing demographic, economic, social and health profile and Map Minimum Relations Aging beyond the Ageism Survey instrument translated and adapted, used to check the occurrence of ageism. In the treatment of data was performed to characterize the sample by means of descriptive analysis, then gave the possible significant associations with the chi square test (p <0.20), and then was made a multivariate analysis by logistic regression ( p <0.05). It was found as the variable "suffered some kind of discrimination" that elderly patients with fewer comorbidities were more discriminated against than the sickest. The same happened to the old man who is responsible for his own house, which suffers more discrimination than one that has a son or relative responsible. Who uses public transportation also suffers more ageism than that does not use, as well as those who have more time for retirement compared to those who have less time. Similarly, older people had more children were more ageism victims, and older women suffer more discrimination than men. Regarding the variable "severity of ageism," the elderly who do not receive emotional support or receive from someone other than family suffer the most severe form of ageism when compared to those who receive emotional support from at least one family member. It was also perceived to have four or more children and being female are factors to suffer the ageism more severe form. With the results, it was observed how the ageism is common and is generalized to the majority of elderly respondents, and were primarily related to their living conditions and health. This situation worsens as observing the ignorance of the population, including the elderly, this kind of discrimination, in addition to gravity and the problems it can cause.