Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The nutrition status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic is an area of concern. Lower-income older population of Thailand in particular has been affected with regard to their employment, income, and health status. This study focused on the prevalence of nutrition statuses usin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra, Jose Carlo G. De Pano, Juniesy Martinez Estanislao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.healthandbehavior.com/article.asp?issn=2772-4204;year=2022;volume=5;issue=4;spage=147;epage=153;aulast=Vicerra
_version_ 1811200619108630528
author Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra
Jose Carlo G. De Pano
Juniesy Martinez Estanislao
author_facet Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra
Jose Carlo G. De Pano
Juniesy Martinez Estanislao
author_sort Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The nutrition status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic is an area of concern. Lower-income older population of Thailand in particular has been affected with regard to their employment, income, and health status. This study focused on the prevalence of nutrition statuses using body mass index (BMI) of this age group and their association with sociodemographic, health behavior, social connectedness, and economic change factors during the pandemic. Methods: Using the 2021 Survey on Housing and Support Services for Poor Older Adults, a sample of lower-income individuals aged 55 years and over was collected from the five regions of Thailand. The data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression where being underweight and overweight were compared with normal weight as the reference. Relative risk ratios (RRR) were presented. Results: Living in regions other than Bangkok was found to be associated with a higher risk of underweight status and lower risk of being overweight. Having primary level (RRR = 0.600, P < 0.05) and above primary level of education (RRR = 0.952, P < 0.05) significantly related with lower risk of low BMI. Income inadequacy during the outbreak was found to be positively associated with both underweight (RRR = 1.514, P < 0.05) and overweight (RRR = 1.145, P < 0.05) statuses. Conclusion: The results show the need to understand the dynamics of social backgrounds, such as poverty experience, in order to address the needs and issues of vulnerable older people, particularly during pandemic times.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T02:06:37Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3293c4951f1141ec90df359844f68fe5
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2772-4204
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T02:06:37Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior
spelling doaj.art-3293c4951f1141ec90df359844f68fe52022-12-22T03:52:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAsian Journal of Social Health and Behavior2772-42042022-01-015414715310.4103/shb.shb_150_22Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemicPaolo Miguel Manalang VicerraJose Carlo G. De PanoJuniesy Martinez EstanislaoIntroduction: The nutrition status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic is an area of concern. Lower-income older population of Thailand in particular has been affected with regard to their employment, income, and health status. This study focused on the prevalence of nutrition statuses using body mass index (BMI) of this age group and their association with sociodemographic, health behavior, social connectedness, and economic change factors during the pandemic. Methods: Using the 2021 Survey on Housing and Support Services for Poor Older Adults, a sample of lower-income individuals aged 55 years and over was collected from the five regions of Thailand. The data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression where being underweight and overweight were compared with normal weight as the reference. Relative risk ratios (RRR) were presented. Results: Living in regions other than Bangkok was found to be associated with a higher risk of underweight status and lower risk of being overweight. Having primary level (RRR = 0.600, P < 0.05) and above primary level of education (RRR = 0.952, P < 0.05) significantly related with lower risk of low BMI. Income inadequacy during the outbreak was found to be positively associated with both underweight (RRR = 1.514, P < 0.05) and overweight (RRR = 1.145, P < 0.05) statuses. Conclusion: The results show the need to understand the dynamics of social backgrounds, such as poverty experience, in order to address the needs and issues of vulnerable older people, particularly during pandemic times.http://www.healthandbehavior.com/article.asp?issn=2772-4204;year=2022;volume=5;issue=4;spage=147;epage=153;aulast=Vicerracovid-19povertysocial determinants of health
spellingShingle Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra
Jose Carlo G. De Pano
Juniesy Martinez Estanislao
Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
Asian Journal of Social Health and Behavior
covid-19
poverty
social determinants of health
title Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Nutrition status of lower-income older adults in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort nutrition status of lower income older adults in thailand during covid 19 pandemic
topic covid-19
poverty
social determinants of health
url http://www.healthandbehavior.com/article.asp?issn=2772-4204;year=2022;volume=5;issue=4;spage=147;epage=153;aulast=Vicerra
work_keys_str_mv AT paolomiguelmanalangvicerra nutritionstatusoflowerincomeolderadultsinthailandduringcovid19pandemic
AT josecarlogdepano nutritionstatusoflowerincomeolderadultsinthailandduringcovid19pandemic
AT juniesymartinezestanislao nutritionstatusoflowerincomeolderadultsinthailandduringcovid19pandemic