Sociodemographic and health aspects of elderly men in a metropolitan city of São Paulo, Brazil

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.15947724170810

• Palavras-chave: Elderly; Aging; Demographics; Health.

• Keywords: Elderly; Aging; Demographics; Health.

• Abstract:

  Goal: The study aims to identify the sociodemographic and health characteristics of elderly men living in a metropolitan city of São Paulo, Brazil. Method: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study. The sample consisted of 174 men aged 60 or older. Data collection was performed using an instrument developed by the authors, focused on the sociodemographic and health characterization of the participants. Results: Most participants were between 60 and 69 years old (60.3%), with a mean age of 69.8 years (standard deviation = 7.0). The majority had completed approximately eight years of schooling (78.8%) and were married (65.5%), with 63.8% having three or more children. They were not employed (78.7%) and were retired (85.9%). Almost all participants had some religious affiliation (94.8%). Regarding health, 59.4% reported having at least one chronic disease, with an average time since diagnosis of 12 years, and the majority expressed satisfaction with their health situation (68.1%). Conclusion: The analysis revealed distinct characteristics of elderly men throughout the aging process. Understanding these aspects is essential for the development of specific care strategies adapted to the needs of this population. This in-depth understanding enables the creation of more effective care approaches that are sensitive to the particularities of male aging.