Badania sytuacji zdrowotnej bezdomnych mężczyzn z powiatu tarnowskiego
Evaluation of health status of homeless men from Tarnow district

Summary/Abstract: he aim of this study was to determine the health status of homeless men from Tarnow district. The study included 70 men, residents of the Reception Center for Homeless Men in Tarnów. We conducted a diagnostic survey with originally designed questionnaire. Longer duration of homelessness is reflected by the enhancement of undesirable attitudes; this leads to changes in life situation, social status, and social position. Our study revealed that homelessness and its consequences have complex and multidirectional character. The most frequent causes of homelessness included alcoholism and divorces (20% each). Nearly one half of the respondents (47%) declared that their health status is neither good nor poor, and 31% of the homeless men characterized their health as poor or very poor. As many as 83% of the respondents believed that homelessness contributed to (partial or complete) deterioration of their health. Arterial hypertension, dermatological conditions, liver cirrhosis, and ophthalmological disorders turned out to be the most prevalent diseases in the study group. As many as 63% of the homeless men did not use any prescription medications systematically, and 37% declared taking them regularly.

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