The physical health and self-esteem of the grandmother raising grandchildren in rural areas of Thailand

Objective: To study the physical health and self-esteem, including factors that influence the self-esteem of grandmothers raising grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern Thailand. Material and Method: A cross-sectional survey research was conducted among 400 grandmothers, aged 50-79 years, who raised their grandchildren in the rural areas of Northern Thailand. Participants were selected by cluster sampling. Data were collected through a structured interview from April to July, 2009 and analyzed by frequency, percentage, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: 73.8% of grandmothers in the survey currently had health problems, 56.2% had a chronic disease of which hypertension was the most common and yet 44.5% displayed high self-esteem. The factors identified as influencing self-esteem were family relationships, age and social support. These factors provided 35.4% in predicting the self-esteem of grandmother who raised grandchildren with family relationship had the highest predictive value. Conclusion: The present study suggested the responsible organizations should organize the program to strengthen the family relationship and social support activity for the grandmother that will lead to the better health and heightening selfesteem.