Family systems: perceptions of elderly patients and their attendents presenting at a university hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To know the present status of family systems in Pakistan, changes they are undergoing and implications of such trends on health of the elderly population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the out-patient clinics, AgaKhan University Hospital, using convenience sampling method. Verbal informed consent was taken from the participants. The questions included demographic profile, satisfaction with current family system, opinions about changing trends of family systems, and their implications on health. Analysis was done using SPSS 13.0.

Results: Four hundred subjects aged 65 and above were interviewed, out of which 226 (56.5%) were living in the joint family system (JFS), whereas 174 (43.5%) were living in a nuclear family system (NFS). A total of 77.5% respondents were in the age class of 65-70 years (mean=69). Majority were men (78%), married (78%), retired (55.8%) and with education below intermediate (61.8%). A total of 366 (91.5%) respondents were satisfied with their family system. 326 (81.5%) respondents said that the trend in family systems in Pakistan was changing and 318 (97.5%) of these subjects thought that it was a JFS to NFS trend. A decline in the proportion of JFS was seen with subsequent generations. 340 (85%) subjects said that a family system has a significant impact on health care.

Conclusion: We have identified changing trends in family systems in Pakistan. Satisfaction with family system and the opinion about the role of a family system on healthcare is documented.