Enquête médicosociale auprès des personnes âgées du centre de gérontologie et de gériatrie de Ouakam au Sénégal

The implementation of geriatric policies adapted to our economic and cultural context mainly requires knowledge of the medico-social status of the elderly. It was in this context that this study was carried out. It was a cross-sectional study of elderly people over the age of 60 who came to the Ouakam Center for Gerontology and Geriatrics in the period 1 to 30 October 2015. The study included 325 patients. There was a majority of male patients (65%), and the average age was 69; 90% of them no longer had any paid activity, 94% of the men were married whereas 55% of the women were widows; 27% of the patients had the care of a family of more than 9 children; 70% were receiving old age pension; and 77% owned the house they were living in; 39% consulted traditional healers; 27% complained of a handicap, particularly visual (58%). The patients presented multiple pathologies, mainly chronic: osteoarticular pathologies (16%), hypertensive pathologies (14%), buccal-dental pathologies (10%). Fifty-five percent of the patients (55%) reported covering medical costs that were not covered by free health care. The main suggestion for improving their health care was free access to consultations and medication (52%). Recommendations are proposed for better medical cover.