Channel NewsAsia - 46 minutes
ago
Survey shows
lowerincome residents at Henderson Road have poorer
health
SINGAPORE: Obesity? Check. Hypertension? Check. Risk of diabetes?
Check.
In three out of four key health indicators, a group of
lowerincome, mainly elderly, residents at Henderson Road are
faring poorer compared to the national average. These are the
findings from the pilot healthmapping survey by the Singapore
Heart Foundation, meant to highlight health issues to policymakers
and the Community Development Councils.
The health screening showed that the obesity rate of 285 households
was nearly double the 6.9 per cent of Singaporeans found to be
obese in the 2004 National Health survey. Likewise, 32.4 per cent
in the lower income group had hypertension, compared to the
national figure of 24.9 per cent.
High cholesterol was the only indicator that measured lower among
the residents (10 per cent) than the wider population.
While the participant size was too small to draw conclusive
inferences, the results could be indicative of common recurring
problems in communities with elder residents, said SHF chief
executive officer Ho Sun Yee.
What was of greater concern to SHF was that many of the 1,132
households approached to participate in November did not want to be
screened.
Many from the lower income group do not want to know about their
health status, as they do not have resources to spend on their
health, said SHF vice chairman Terrance Chua, who told reporters of
the need to raise awareness of "lowcost or free" healthcare
services.
The Singapore AntiTuberculosis Association, for one, will offer
free medical services to the area in late February or early March.
The SHF hopes its healthmapping programme will help individuals,
organisations, community members and policymakers to combine their
health promotion efforts and provide targeted support.
In another survey last year on heart awareness, some 1,600
respondents were found to be largely aware of health matters. But
"a significant number still have misconceptions," the SHF
said.
For instance, 53.8 per cent thought lowering their blood pressure
would be enough to reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
TODAY/sh