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.