Prevalence and factors associated with elder abuse in an eastern state of india
 
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1
AIIMS Bhubaneswar Dept of Community Medicine & Family Medicine Sijua India
 
2
Topiwala National Medical College & B.Y.L Nair Charitable Hospotal
 
3
AIIMS Bhubaneswar Associate Professor Sijua India
 
 
Publication date: 2023-04-26
 
 
Popul. Med. 2023;5(Supplement):A44
 
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The problem of elder abuse exists in the present society and is considered an important social issue. It usually goes underreported because of the inability of the elderly to seek help and the lack of awareness regarding legal procedures. The consequences of elder abuse are enormous ranging from mental health issues to physical injury and death. Most of the available evidence has found that family members and caregivers are the ones primarily involved in the abuse of the elderly.

Objective:
To find the prevalence, pattern, and associated factors of elder abuse in an urban area

Material and Method:
Cross-sectional community-based study conducted between August 2019 to August 2020 in an urban field practice area of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar. A total of 360 participants aged 60 years and above were interviewed using various semi-structured interview schedules and validated study tools such as Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 22.0.

Results:
Approximately one in five (19.4%) elderly reported some form of abuse. The types of elder abuse reported were physical abuse in 12 (3.3%), verbal abuse in 25 (6.9%), emotional abuse in 40 (11.1%), and financial abuse in 15 (4.2%) elderly participants. The sons and daughters-in-law of the elderly participants were the main perpetrators of the abuse reported. Depression and past history of abuse were found significantly associated with any type of abuse.

Conclusion:
The prevalence of elder abuse found in this study was considerably high, with 70 (19.4%) out of the 360 elderly participants reporting some form of abuse. Emotional abuse was the most reported, and physical abuse was the least reported type of abuse. The most common perpetrators were those on whom the elderly depended, like their sons and daughters-in-law.

 
CITATIONS (1):
1.
Prevalence and types of elder abuse in Sub Saharan Africa, systematic review and meta-analysis, 2023
Mihretie Gedfew, Addisu Getie, Tadesse Yirga Akalu, Temesgen Ayenew
Journal of the National Medical Association
 
ISSN:2654-1459
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