Public Awareness and Perception on Care for the Elderly among Funtua Residents in Katsina State, North-west Nigeria

摘要

The population of the elderly is rapidly increasing globally and there is a need to meet up with the special needs and requirements that are unique to them. This study aimed at evaluating public awareness and perception towards care for the elderly in Funtua town, Katsina State, North-west Nigeria. This exploratory and cross-sectional descriptive survey used a questionnaire developed by the researchersto collect data from 147 participants selected through a combination of cluster and systematic random sampling techniques. Data obtained were analyzed descriptively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 and M.S Excel. The result shows that majority of the studied participants (90%) have relatively good knowledge of the basic care of the elderly, with high positive attitudinal predisposition towards and preference to care for their aged people in their (participants’) homes rather than to be nursed in institutions such as nursing homes (92%). Despite the relatively good knowledge and positive attitudes expressed by the participants toward the care for older people, significant efforts are required to health educate the public about the activities of daily living and needs and other specific ways of caring for elderly people, especially those with chronic illness.