Health status and associated factors among the community-dwelling elderly women in China

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the health status and associated factors of the elderly women in China. A cross-sectional survey from cluster random sampling method was performed between March 2013 and December 2013. 1910 elderly people aged 60 years and over were selected in a community of Nanjing, China, including 977 elderly women. The self-designed elderly health assessment scale questionnaire was used. The data were analyzed through χ2-test and ordinal logistic regression. The results showed that the older women were higher in proportion than older men, the elderly women had lower in education, higher in divorced or widowed proportions, higher in living alone, and higher in no occupations. The proportion of elderly women suffering from chronic disease was lower than that of elderly men. The proportion of the elderly woman suffering from high cholesterol was higher, lower in high blood pressure. Elderly women were poorer than men in Physiological health, Memory and Multidimensional health status. The elderly women who had older, lower-education level, non-couples living, general employees or workers had poorer Multidimensional health status. This study demonstrated that the health status of elderly women of Nanjing, China were in a vulnerable position, especially some associated factors. We need pay more attention on these in improving the health of elderly women.