Using information about elderly subjects attending government medical clinics to tailor nutrition education services...

A study of the elderly was carried out in 2 Cornwall County parishes (Hanover and Westmoreland) from June to August, 1987. The health status and general situation of the elderly attending Government Medical Clinics was studied to obtain information to design nutrition education services that met their needs. Four Health Centres (two Type II and two Type III) were selected by stratified random sampling for the study. The results indicated that more elderly women (71%) than men (29%) used the Primary Health Care Services. Obesity was more common among women (29%) than men (0%). More men (30%) were underweight than women (9%). Food stamps appeared to be the most regular source of income for the elderly. Most of the elderly (92%) felt that they were not in good health. Although they generally had 2 to 3 meals per day, their food intake, particularly of fruits and peas, appeared to be inadequate. The results point clearly to a need to strengthen the nutrition education services offered to the elderly attending Government Medical Clinics in Cornwall County, Jamaica.