Prevalence and Determinants of Functional Disability Among Elderly in Rural Goa, India

Background: Functional disability in older adults, defined as the inability to perform essential daily activities, is categorized into Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Understanding these limitations is key for informing health policies and services. The aim was to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with functional disability among the elderly in rural Goa. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly residing in the field practice area of the Rural Health and Training Centre, Mandur, Goa. Data were collected from 300 elderly participants using the Katz ADL Index and Lawton Brody’s IADL Scale. Participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Results: ADL disability prevalence was 13.7%, while IADL disability was 38.7%. ADL disability was associated with sex, education, financial dependence, co-morbidities, alcoholism, and sensory impairments. IADL disability was linked to age, sex, education, financial dependence, co-morbidities and visual impairment. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive geriatric assessments in rural communities, highlighting the importance of evaluating functional status at the primary healthcare level to improve elderly care policies.