EFE.- 20% of Mexican older adults do not have an affiliation to a health service institution despite the fact that it is the population that most frequently faces chronic degenerative diseases, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported on Wednesday.
On the occasion of the International Day of Older Adults, which is commemorated on October 1, the agency explained that this percentage represents almost three million older adults without social security.
The highest percentages of people aged 60 and over not affiliated with health services are found in Michoacán, Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Mexico and Puebla, with percentages ranging from 24% to 32%.
Meanwhile, of those who do have affiliation to a health service, 98% make use of these services, being the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) the one that attends the most patients, with 38% of that total, while the Ministry of Health takes charge of 25% and the rest is distributed in other institutions.
The report also indicated that, until 2020, there were 2.4 million older adults who cannot read or write, which is equivalent to 16% of the total population of that age group and women are illiterate in a greater proportion (19%) than men (13%).
Regarding economically active older adults, the National Survey of Occupation and Employment in its new edition (ENOE), revealed that during the first quarter of 2021 the rate of economic activity in older adults is 29%.
In addition, in men the rate is almost three times higher than that of women with 45% and 16% respectively.
Of the older adults who work, 47% are self-employed, and 40% are subordinate or paid workers.
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Likewise, participation decreases as the age advances, since it goes from 39% for the group between 60 and 69 years old to 8% among those who are 80 years old and over.
Regarding the marital situation, Inegi highlighted that 53% of older adults reported being married, while 24% are widowers. Although more women have lost their partner (34%) than men (13%).
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