Increase older adult population with some health problem that sought health care during the quarter April-May-June of 2023

During the second quarter of 2023, 40.0% of the country’s population of 60 years old and over with some health problem sought health care in an establishment, a higher figure in 7.7 percentage points, compared with the same quarter of the last year (32.3%). This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) in the technical report Situation of the Older Adult Population, prepared with the results of the National Household Survey (ENAHO).

According to place of consultation, 12.8% attended the Ministry of Health (MINSA) establishments that compared with the same quarter of 2022; it increased in 3.7 percentage points, followed by the 10.6% that sought health care in pharmacies or apothecaries. It was observed an increase of 0.7 percentage points compared with the same quarter under analysis and the 8.7% attended a Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) establishments growing in 3.6 percentage points, among the main ones.

During the second quarter of 2023, of the total of the older adult population of 60 years old and over, 90.5% have some health insurance, whether being public or private, increasing in 1.3 percentage points compared to the same quarter of the last year.

The greater coverage growth to some health insurance was registered in the rest of urban area by going from 88.4% to 90.7%, followed by Lima Metropolitan area going from 89.1% to 89.6% and in the rural area by going from 90.9% to 91.3%.

According to type of health insurance, 36.1% of this population group accessed to EsSalud and 48.9% accessed just to the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS), with increases of 0.5 and 1.5 percentage points, respectively; compared with the results obtained in the second quarter of the year 2022.

From April to June of the year 2023, 40.5% of the country’s households have among its members at least one person of 60 years old and over compared to the same quarter of the last year (39.9%).

In the rural area, the proportion of households with some member of 60 years old and over was of 43.3% and 37.7% in the rest of urban area with increases of 1.3 and 0.8 percentage points, respectively. Likewise, in Lima Metropolitan area was of 42.8%.

During the second quarter of 2023, of the total households that have as female or male-headed household a person of 60 years old and older, 50.6% are nuclear households type, constituted by a couple and their daughters and sons or without them. Followed by 24.3% of the households of female/male older adults that are single household (composed just for and older adult person being male or female) and 19.9% of households are extended, it means, to the nuclear households are added other relatives.

In lower proportion, 4.5% are households without core (composed by a female or male chief with neither a spouse nor dependent child, that lives with other persons with which they may or not have family relationships) and 0.7% are composed households, so called because, they are inside a household in addition of the relatives, other members that are non-family members.

The INEI informed that from the total of the population that suffer some disability, 42.7% are older adults, it means, they are 60 years old and older.

By residence area, the proportion of the older adult population with some disability is higher in the rural area (51.5%), than que in the urban area (40.4%). Among the older adults that have some disability, 13.2% are 60 to 70 years old and 29.5% are 71 years old and older.

According to type of disability that affects the population of 60 years old and over, 32.7% has difficulty to use arms and legs, has difficulty to use arms and legs, 15.0% has difficulty to hear, 13.5% has difficulty to see and 7.8% has difficulty to understand or learn, among the main ones. Meanwhile, 29.5% of the older adults with some disability has two or more disabilities.

For the quarter under analysis, 40.2% of the older adult population used the Internet. In the case of men, 45.7% used the Internet and 35.2% of women, existing a digital gap between both sexes of 10.5 favorable to male of 60 years and older.

The INEI informed that the households that have as male or female chief an older adult person, 88.4% has some member that has a cellphone. In the case of urban area, the access to this service reached 92.1% and 76.7% of the households in the rural area.