Health Status, Morbidity Pattern and Treatment Seeking Behaviour among Elderly in India: Evidence from 60^th Round of National Sample Survey Data

This paper tries to study the health status of elderly, morbid conditions, their perceptions about their own health and their treatment seeking behaviour using the data from 60^th round of National Sample Survey and Census of India, 2001. Bi-variate and multi-variate techniques were used to find out the factors affecting the health and health care utilization of the elderly. Result shows that widows/widowers are having worst relative state of health as compared to currently married elderly. Monthly Percapita Consumer Expenditure (MPCE) is positively related to state of health. Dependency during old age also has significant negative impact on the state of health. Male elderly used to take more treatment as compared to their female counterparts. This is a byproduct of culture of silence and low status of female elderly. Educational level, occupation and MPCE are found to be important determinant of treatment seeking behaviour.