Health conditions among elderly Puerto Ricans: gender differences

The health conditions of 466 free-living elderly Puerto Ricans were surveyed islandwide between September 1984 and September 1985. The questions pertaining to this topic are made up of 17 items: seven questions about background information and a list of ten of the most frequently reported health conditions among the elderly. It is part of a larger study of the socio-demographic characteristics of this population, comprised of 173 questions. The statistical tests of significance utilized were those of Kendall's Tau B and Cramer's V. The structural variables of sex, age, and marital status were found to be the most statistically significant for the presence of health conditions at the time of the interview. The implications of this for the elderly, social and public policy planners, formal and informal care gives and the health care establishment are discussed.