Abstract
This study was purposed to find health promotion and care needs of the elderly in rural area of Korea. As the rural elderly are limited in accessibility to health care resources and could not immediately solve their health care needs when they need. health promotion and care services are expected to bring better and more practical solutions of their health care needs. Thus, the type of health care services to be developed in Korea rural area is discussed to have emphasis on health care service component in addition to health promoting components. Methods of this study was based on survey data analysis : total 322 persons aged older than 55 living at one 'Kun' in Korea administrative unit were interviewed by health workers working at the region and also get trained for this study data collection. The data collection interview was continued from February till May in 1996. The interview questions were modified with adjustment to Korea situation. with basis of the WHO's health promotion program components. The collected data were analyzed using SAS program for frequency, correlation, regressions. The major findings were as follows : (1) $74.8\%$ of the surveyed were sick at the survey time point. and $95.9\%$ known the diagnosis name of the disease. The most frequently complained diseases were Muscular-Skeletal diseases $(43.7\%)$. $34\%$ of those sick had never treated or discontinued therapeutic procedures. so that shown the necessity of systematic and usual health care services with health promotion program development for the elderly. (2) The percent of those who make social participation was $95.3\%$. and the activities were visiting neighbors $(70.4\%)$ and lack of qualified social activity programs. (3) $78.1\%$ of the surveyed had health counseling and education from professional health workers. Those ceased smoking and drinking were $59.6\%,\; 60.3\%$. respectively. Those had no application of therapeutic drugs or nutrion supplements was $40.7\%\;and\;94.1\%$ had regular meals. Those practiced exercises was low remarking $17.7\%$. (4) Positive health behaviors were better carried out by sick groups than by the healthier. except smoking. regular meals. and exercise. $17.5\%$ of sick group smoke more than one case of cigarettes. in contrast to $9.5\%$ of the healthier. (5) Mental health status was heathier among positive health behavior earners. Health counseling and education shown better score of mental health than those never counseled. (6) Positive health behavior practice frequency did not show significant differences when crossed by social activity participation status. (7) Health behaviors of the rural elderly people were carried out better when they had positive 'continuency in therapeutic procedure' 'health status'. 'familial relationship'. 'Health Status' of the rural olderly were explained by 'exercise'. 'drinking'. 'familial relationship'. 'activities of daily living'. Thus, health behaviors practice mutually interact with health status. In conclusion. the health promotion and care program component are recommended to include ation on the necessity of positive health promotion active social acitivities. pleasant life style, adaption into changes on the elderly, safety in residential area. community acitivity and resource utilization. etc .. in addition to the elderly's disability and sickness caring services.