OBJECTIVE: To analyze how the elderly population in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte perceive their own health situation. METHODOLOGY: Data from the Household Sample Survey (PAD/MG) were used held in 2009 by João Pinheiro Foundation. It was examined and interviewed a random sample of 963 people aged 60 years or more residents in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte. The dependent variable was self-perceived of health status and the independent variables were: diseases that require constant monitoring, smoking, regular physical activity, working, pension benefits and education. A descriptive analysis and statistical analysis of association were conducted by means of Chi-square and T Student. RESULTS: The study interviewed 963 people aged 60 years or greater; 58.2% of the sample are women, mean age of 69.4 years and 44% reported health status as "very good or good" and 10.7% "bad or very bad". From the subjects who reported having health problems that require constant monitoring (n=960), 42% suffer of arterial hypertension; 78.5% can be considered illiterate; 67.9% received retirement or pension in the reference month of the survey; 25% reported performing regular physical activity; 10.7% declared their health state as being "bad or very bad". The self-perception of health status is worse among the elderly reporting chronic diseases, poor education, lack of working habits and reduced physical activity ((P<0,05). These results can be considered as crucial information to help in the search for implementing better government funded programs to assist the elderly population of Minas Gerais.
Aging; Self Concept; Health Status; Aged; Health of the Elderly; Belo Horizonte City
