A study of relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and related factors in hospitalized elderly people in Zahedan hospitals (1389)

The population of the old people is increasing in Iran. Nutrition is one of the vital factors in the health of the elders. Remarkable evidence indicate that low consumption of fruit and vegetable are hazardous factors in chronic diseases. The present study aimed at investigation the amount of fruit and vegetable consumption among the people in Zahedan. This is an analytical –description study done on 300 old people over sixty or more who were hospitalized in the city of zahedan.The accessible sampling was used along with a researcher –made questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been established. Descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) as well as inferential statistics (chi-square)with 99% confidence interval were used for the analysis of the data. According to findings the average age of the research sample was 68.8±5.7. As for literacy rate 70% of the participants in the study were illiterate. 69.6% were urban dwellers. also, 69.7%of the participants were married. Moreover,97.7%of them consumed less than recommended and 64% less fruit than recommended. There was a statistically significant relationship among education (p<.001), ,being married or single(p<.001) and the recommended amount of vegetable consumption also being urban dwellers and rural dwellers(p<.002) and education (p<.001) and the recommended amount of fruit consumption. No statistically significant differences were observed between gender and the amount of vegetable and fruit consumption. The majer causes of low consumption of vegetable and fruit were ignorance, financial and mouth and teeth problems. Consumption of fruit and vegetable is very low among the participants. Considering the role of adequate consumption of fruit and vegetable in the health of the old people, planning and nutrition interventions are needed in the old people.