Status and influential factors of family functioning among the elderly in urban and rural Hebei

Objective To examine the status and influential factors of family functioning among elderly people in urban and rural areas of Hebei province and to provide scientific bases for improvement of health care system for the elderly.Methods Investigations were carried out among 6 173 elderly people aged 60 years and above in three regions of Hebei province with multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method.Results Among the elderly,842(13.64%) had families with a good family function;5 305(85.94%) had families with normal family function;and 26(0.42%) had families with low family fruction.Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that living in rural area,divorced,having no income or stable income,and without pension insurance were risk factors of low family functioning,whereas aged 70 year or older and with rural cooperative medical insurance were protective factors for family functioning among the elderly.Conclusion The family functioning of the elderly is at a low level and income,health care,and pension insurance are main influencing factors of family functioning in the elderly living in the urban and rural of Hebei.