Mehio Sibai Abla, Rizk Anthony, Kronfol Nabil M
J Med Liban. 2015 Jan-Mar;63(1):2-7. doi: 10.12816/0009912.
Lebanon is currently experiencing unique and dynamic demographic shifts towards an aging population: past and present fertility are among the lowest in the Arab region and crude mortality rates have decreased in the past few decades from 9.1 to 7.1 per thousand. Increased waves of emigration of youthful adults seeking better work opportunities elsewhere, as well as counter-waves of 'return migration' of older Lebanese workers from neighboring host countries contribute further to the 'rectangularization' of the population pyramid. These trends are accompanied by an epidemiological transition towards non-communicable diseases, mental disorders and degenerative diseases as the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in lieu of communicable diseases. We examine in this paper the implications of these transformations on the health profile of older persons and on the social and health care available to them. Findings are discussed within the prevailing conflicts and political strife in the country, family transformations and structural settings including pension systems, health coverage, family support channels and social fabric, and nursing home-care. The paper ends with recommendations and options for.reforms.
黎巴嫩目前正经历着独特且动态的人口结构转变，朝着老龄化社会发展：过去和现在的生育率在阿拉伯地区都处于最低水平，在过去几十年里，粗死亡率从千分之9.1降至千分之7.1。越来越多的年轻人为寻求更好的工作机会而移民到其他地方，同时，黎巴嫩老年工人从邻国回流的浪潮进一步加剧了人口金字塔的“矩形化”。这些趋势伴随着流行病学转变，即非传染性疾病、精神障碍和退行性疾病取代传染病，成为导致死亡和发病的主要原因。在本文中，我们研究了这些转变对老年人健康状况以及他们可获得的社会和医疗保健的影响。研究结果将在该国当前的冲突和政治纷争、家庭变革以及包括养老金制度、医保覆盖范围、家庭支持渠道和社会结构以及养老院护理在内的结构背景下进行讨论。本文最后提出了改革建议和方案。
