[Functional incapacity among low-income elderly women]

The scope of this study was to analyze the relationship between socio-demographic and health-related aspects and functional incapacity among low-income elderly women. This cross-sectional study involved a representative sample of 222 women with mean age of 70 years (± 7.27), in community groups in the city of Jequié, in the State of Bahia, Brazil. Anthropometric measurements were taken and interviews staged to examine the socio-demographic, physical and behavioral health variables. The statistical analysis was accomplished with a level of significance of p<0.05, with calculation of the respective odds ratio in the binary logistic regression, for analysis of hierarchically-grouped factors. The prevalence of functional incapacity was 46.8% and, by using hierarchical multivariate analysis, a significant association was detected with increased age, insufficient schooling, hospitalization, lack of physical exercise throughout life and alterations in the cognitive function. The characteristics identified that associated limitations in instrumental activities in daily life suggest a complex causal network in the determination of functional incapacity in low-income elderly women.