Do Public Health and Social Participation Matter for the Elderly? An Analysis of an Aging Community in Khuzistan Province, Iran

Abstract

Increasing aged population (3.1%) compared with natural growth of Iranian population (1.2%) is a problematic issue. The literatures acclaim that physical disabilities and health problems in end life have significant relationship with social participation of aged. This study illustrates social participation in Iranian background, its factors and obstacles especially among aged. The scale of aged participation (SAP) constructed according to selected theories in 4 basic items and its 35 sub items. The community of the study is aged people in four selected cities of Khuzistan province/Iran: Ahwaz, Behbahan, Mah-Shahr, Dezful, and Abadan in 2010, and sampled 768 urban and rural elders. Findings have mentioned that social participation is low. It has significant relationship with burgess, high literacy, ethnicity, living with children, feminine, growth of welfare, having chronic disease of respiratory disorder, social alienation, cost of participation, reduction in benefits of participation, growth of their child’s income.

Key words: Elderly; Social Participation; Literatures; Obstacles; Factors; Khuzistan Cities (Iran)