SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.32 issue1Association between chronic stress and immune response to influenza vaccine in healthcare workersQualitative research, health and drugs use: Outcomes and theorotical, analytical and espistemological implications of using the open talking interview technique author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO

Share


Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública

Print version ISSN 0870-9025

Abstract

RIBEIRO, Olga  and  PINTO, Cândida. Characteristics of a person who is dependent on self-care: A population based study in a region in the North of Portugal. Rev. Port. Sau. Pub. [online]. 2014, vol.32, n.1, pp.27-36. ISSN 0870-9025.

Introduction: In the world we live in today, as a result of the socio-demographic, economic and structural changes, dependency on self-care is becoming more and more important, and nowadays it is of great concern to the social health policies to identify the people in a dependency situation and to come up with solutions that are suitable to meet their needs. Objective: The aim of this study is to characterize and describe people dependent on self-care, integrated within a traditional family, within a private household, in a specific region in Northern Portugal. Material and methods: In a study of a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive correlation nature, and using a random, stratified and proportional probabilistic sampling technique, 2126 classic families were identified in Paços de Ferreira, in a "door-to-door" approach. 248 of them were found to have dependent members and 241 of these families accepted to take part in this research. Forms entitled "Families with Self-Care Dependent members" were used as instruments of data collection. Results: The results showed that the dependent people were mainly female and of a higher age group. As for the degree of dependency on self-care, it was shown that the higher percentage of dependent people who at least need someone's help, mostly include those who can take care of themselves: take their own medicine, feed themselves, get ready, bath or shower, get dressed and undressed, use a wheelchair, use the toilet, walk, move around, get up, and turn themselves around. As far as the degree of dependency is concerned, where global self-care is concerned, 7,9% of them were totally dependent without any kind of participation, 91,7% needed someone's help and 0,4% only needed equipment. Conclusion: The results, besides demonstrating that they need help to perform at least one of the activities inherent to each set of self-care tasks, also show that they are more likely to be exposed to a higher risk of compromising bodily processes. In view of the above, it is necessary to be aware of this reality, from an epidemiological point of view, in order to plan the proper care to meet their needs and to lead to improved health.

Keywords : Dependent; Self-care; Dependent on self-care; Family.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )