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Nutrition vulnerability and health risk factors of the older persons living in Southern Darfur. Case study: (Tulus Province).

Article Excerpt
Abstract

In the present investigation a population of 200 of older females and males from Fulani in Tulus, South Darfur, were investigated for their nutritional status, health status and risk factors and the impact of food security. The majority of the respondents were found affluent with high monthly income and ownership of cattle and cultivated land. Hence, their food is well secured. Although the majority of respondents were 65 years and up to over 85 years of age, a negligible percentage suffered from functional disabilities. Accordingly, the health risk factors were minimized among the studied Fulani population. That, at the age group above 85 years, none of the respondents was with poor mobility, is a phenomenon that should deserve further investigation. Results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) have shown their vast majority was normal and very few had the risk for. obesity or being obese. Therefore, the problem of malnutrition by under nourishment does not exist among the studied population.

In comparison to previous studies on Sudanese older persons, the fewer cases of hypertension and Diabetes that occurred among age groups 66-75 years and the complete absence of the disease among still older groups (76 to 85 and above 85 years) cannot be explained in. terms of nutrition. Hence, conclusions were made on this phenomenon as probably being genetically controlled among the Fulani ethnic group.

On screening the gender variations, the risk of tendency for obesity or obesity was highly significant for females (P = 0.000). Variations in dexterity and mobility have shown insignificant differences between females and males. Insignificant differences were also observed between the two sexes.

Accordingly, relevant recommendations were made in connection with the improvement of older people situation in general. Those included the participation of the government, Help Age International (HAI) and other relevant agencies.

Introduction

In both developing and developed countries, chronic diseases are significant and costly of disability and reduced quality of life. The likelihood of experiencing major disabilities dramatically increases in very old age and within the age of years and over (Second World Assembly on Ageing, 2002). Blindness or partial blindness is a significant physical disability that is observed among older men and women (HAI, 2002).

As a consequence of natural ageing, lower body dysfunction will affect mobility and would thus restrict mobility which would negatively affect other activities which are necessary for life.

In developing countries many people...

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