Assessment of nutritional status among the elderly people attending primary health care centers in Al-Diwaniyah city

Malnutrition greatly affects the elderly due to various reasons such as physiological and functional changes that occur with age, lack of financial assistance and inadequate access to food. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly people attending primary health care centers in Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq, in addition to medical problems such as infectious and non-communicable diseases, malnutrition increases the health problems of the elderly. The Study Design is a cross-sectional study. This study, which was conducted at primary health care centers in Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq, from (25/3/2022) to (20/ 8/2022). The Study Sample the study consisted of elderly people aged 50-85 years who went to primary health care centers in the city of Al-Diwaniyah. Sample size calculator by used G* power program and the sample size consisted of 157 elderly people. The questionnaire used in this study is Mini Nutritional Assessment scale (MNA). Data analysis by used IBM SPSS 26 package program was used to analyze the data collected in the study, Frequency analysis , T-Test and ANOVA analysis , While creating the research report, 95% confidence interval (p<.05) was used for the significance level. The result of this study show that During the course of the present study data analysis and logical discussion and interpretation of result the study concludes that Most of the respondents are from the age group (60-69) and most of them are married, as well as the work status was not working, Family Monthly Income was Income equals expenses, and more than half of the sample get a Presence of Health Insurance. There is a significant statistical relationship between age, marital status, marriage age, education level, family monthly income, presence of children, Long Lived Place and Mini Nutritional Assessment Scale (MNA). Recommendation of this study is Increase the health awareness of the elders about consuming healthy food through application of educational activity such as meetings in primary health care, seminars, distribution of folders and leaflets in cooperation with primary health care providers. Establishing local NGO for care and support of older adults in the province involving members from health care providers, civil activist's volunteers, academics, social workers and lawyers to advocate and to protect them.