Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

The state of Kerala in India had achieved replacement level fertility in 1994, though the country has not yet been able to
achieve this. Low fertility in Kerala has led to major changes in age structure of population. Shift in the age structure
coupled with high life expectancy has led to a rapid increase in the aged population in Kerala and this poses very severe
challenges to the public health system. Objectives of the study are to illustrate the scenario of population ageing in Kerala over
the last few decades and to discuss the public health implications of population ageing. Data are taken from the Census of
India. About 12.6 percent of populations of the state are in the 60+ years of age. Sex ratio of elderly population is in favour of
females with sex ratio of 80 years and older population was 1652 females per 1000 males. The life expectancy at birth was 73
years for males and 79 years for females in 2013 and the same is expected to reach 79 and 85 years respectively by 2051. There
were about 0.13 million households that had a single female elderly living alone as per 2011 census. Most of the elderly women
had no income and a good proportion of them were depending on their children for livelihood. Care and support for elderly
has become a major problem. Chronic disease prevalence among elderly was high with diabetes prevalence at 50 percent.
Social security schemes that provide livelihood for the elderly have not been successful as the amount given to each person is
meagre. The study suggested policy measures to address the various public health challenges associated with ageing.

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