Factors Predicting Nutritional Status Among Elderly People in San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study the factors predicting the nutritional status among the elderly in San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province. The sample group comprised a total of 600 elderly people and caregivers by used Taro Yamane formular. A stratified random sampling was done according to the proportion of the elderly population and elderly caregivers in each village and drawn lots. The research tools were a questionnaire about the nutrition literacy of the elderly, and an interview form about the nutritional status of the elderly that have been qualified and are precise. Data analysis by Descriptive Statistic Chi-Square Test and Binary Logistic Regression Analysis. The findings illustrated that the elderly people had normal nutritional status (82.3%). Regarding the nutrition literacy of the caregiver, the caregivers had an interactive level (52%). By analyzing the multiple variable analysis and control of the gender and age variables, it was found that the caregivers who had the nutrition literacy at the interactive level had a relationship to increase the chance of the good nutritional status of the elderly people by 2.061 times when compared to the caregivers who had the nutrition literacy at the fundamental level, which showed a statistical significance. Interactive nutrition literacy is interpersonal communication skills, interacting with a nutrition counselor, searching for and applying nutrition information to improve nutritional status. The result of the factors predicting the nutritional status among the elderly can apply to develop a model to encourage elderly caregivers to have nutrition literacy and the elderly receive proper nutritional care.