38.0% of the older adult population with some health problem sought medical attention

According to the results of the National Household Survey (ENAHO), in the first quarter of the year 2024, 38.0% of the population of 60 years of age and older that has some health problem sought medical attention in an establishment, figure higher in 3.9 percentage points than the registered in the same quarter of the year 2023 (34.1%). This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), in the technical report Situation of the Older Adult Population, corresponding to the first quarter of the current year.

According to place or type of establishment of medical consultation, 11.6% sought medical attention in a pharmacy or drugstore, 10.7% went to establishments of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), 8.0% in establishments of the Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) and 5.6% went to a private practice. Compared to the same quarter of the last year, medical consultation increased in 2.3 percentage points and in establishments of MINSA increased in 1.3 percentage points.

By residence area, in Lima Metropolitan area, the place or establishment of greater medical consultation was the pharmacy or drugstore with 11.5%, followed by EsSalud with 10.9%, MINSA with 7.9%, and private practice with 7.0%. Likewise, in the urban rest, people sought medical attention in greater proportion in the pharmacy (12.5%), MINSA (9.7%) and EsSalud (9.4%). Finally, in the rural area, people went to the MINSA establishments (17.0%) and the pharmacy (10.1%), among the main ones.

The INEI informed that 42.2% pf the households of the country have among their members at least one person of 60 years of age and older, a higher figure in 2.3 percentage points that in the same quarter of the last year (39.9%).

According to place of residence, in Lima Metropolitan area 46.5% of the households have among their members some older adult which increased in 4.4 percentage points compared to the reported in the first quarter of 2023 (42.1%). Meanwhile, in the rural area increased in 2.0 percentage points by going from 43.2% to 45.2% and in the urban rest (do not includes Lima Metropolitan area) went from 36.8% to 37.9% (1.1 percentage points).

27.2% of the households of the country have as head of household a person of 60 years of age or older which increased in 1.3 percentage points, compared to the same quarter of the year 2023 (25.9%).

According to residence area, in the rural area this indicator increased in 1.4 percentage points by going from 29.4% to 30.8%, in the urban area grew in 1.2 percentage points, by going from 25.0% to 26.2%.

From the total of older adult population, 92.1% has some health insurance (whether public or private), increasing in 2.2 percentage points, compared to the same quarter of the year 2023 (89.9%).

According to type of health insurance, 37.8% of the older adults accessed to EsSalud and 48.3% have the Comprehensive Health Insurance (SIS), increasing in 0.6 and 1.2 percentage points, respectively, when compared to the first quarter of the year 2023.

The results of the National Household Survey (ENAHO) revealed that from the total of population that suffers some disability, 46.2% are 60 years old and older. By residence area, in the rural area 47.7% and in the urban area 45.9% of population with some disability are older adults.

During the quarter under analysis, 47.5% of the older adult population accessed to the Internet, increasing in 3.4 percentage points compared to the same quarter of the year 2023 (44.1%). In the case of men, 51.9% used the Internet and among women 43.5%.