Self-rated health among older adults in India: Gender specific findings from National Sample Survey

Background: This study examined whether and what determinants of gender disparity exist current self-rated health (SRH current ) and change in SRH (SRH change ) among older adults in Indian setting. Methods: : We used cross-sectional data from the 75th National Sample Survey Organizations (NSSO), collected from July 2017 to June 2018. The analytical sample constitutes 42,759 older individuals aged 60 years or older with 21,902 older men and 20,857 older women (eliminating two non-binary individuals). Outcome measures include two variables of poor/worse SRH status (SRH current and SRH change ). We have calculated absolute gaps in the prevalence of poor SRH current and worse SRH change by background characteristics. We carried out binary logistic regression models to examine the predictors of poor SRH current and worse SRH change among older adults. Results: : The overall absolute gender gap in poor SRH current was 3.27% and it was 0.58% in worse SRH change . Older women had significantly higher odds of poor SRH current [AOR=1.09; CI=0.99, 1.19] and worse SRH change [AOR=1.09; CI=1.02, 1.16] compared to older men. Older adults belonging to middle-aged, oldest-old, economically dependent, not working, physically immobile, suffering from chronic diseases, hospitalized, belonging to Muslim religion, and Eastern region have found to have poor SRH current and worse SRH change . While educational attainments showed glaring lower significant odds of have poor SRH current and worse SRH change compared to those with no education. Respondents belonging to richest income quintile and not covered by any health insurance, belonging to Schedule caste, OBC, Western and Southern regions are found to have poor SRH current and worse SRH change . Compared to those in the urban residence, respondents from rural residence [AOR=1.09; CI=1.02, 1.16] has higher odds of worse SRH change . Conclusions: : There is a clear gender gap observed in poor current SRH and worse change in SRH among older adults in India. This study addressed the significant public health concern, which is crucial to address the challenge of the older people’s health and their perception of well-being.