A Comparative Study on Life-Style of Elders Affected and Not Affected by Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Guilan, Iran

Background: Life-style is one of the most important factors affecting health, which can counteract with various pathogenic risk factors through identification and management of it. Objectives: This study aimed to compare life-style of elders affected and not affected by intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 190 elders aged ≥60 years old (30 individuals: affected, 160 individuals were non-affected by IPI) who referred to health centers in Gilan province (2017-2018). Sampling was random and the samples were transferred from the health centers to the laboratory of the medical school in east of Guilan. Using direct wet smear (microscopic examination), formalin-ethyl acetate concentration techniques and Ziehl Neelson’s stain, stool samples were examined for IPIs. Data were collected using Babak’s healthy life-style questionnaire for the elderly and analysed in SPSS v.21 software. Results: The majority of the participants were in the age range of 60-69 years (63.2%) and illiterate (55.8%). Most of the elders had moderate life-style (62.1%). In the significant dimensions (exercise, prevention, nutrition, stress management and total), mean and median score of life-style in elders non-affected by IPI were higher than affected ones (P 0.05). In addition to IPI, age, presence of chronic disease, living with spouse, BMI and educational level are among the factors related to life-style in the elderly (P 0.05). Conclusion: Identifying factors related to healthy life-style has important role in change and promotion of elders’ life-style. Performing interventions in order to enhance elders’ awareness to modify and improve life-style is essential.