Chronic Diseases, Depressive Symptoms and Socio-economic Characteristics Among Older Adults in Morocco: A pilot Study on Gender Differences

Abstract

Objective: Nowadays, the burden of chronic diseases and functional disabilities in elderly people has increased considerably in Morocco. Was toexamine gender differences in self-reported health of the elderly, taking into account socio-economic, demographic and family characteristics.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Marrakech province. A group of 368 individuals aged 60 years or older wasselected by a non-probability sampling through face-to-face interviews between March 2017 and June 2018. All participants were recruited fromfour community health care centers in the districts of Massira, Mhamid, and Daouidiate in Marrakech province. Statistical analyses were performedusing SPSS software-version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).Results: Most elderly had poor socio-economic and health status with women being the most disadvantaged. Elderly women were significantlyless educated, had no partner and were financially dependent on their children and relatives. They continued to suffer from depressivesymptoms, musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases (p