Prevalence of Abuse and Neglect Among Iranian Elderly Population and Its Relationship With Socioeconomic Factors Publisher



Hatamabadi H¹ ; Fadayevatan R² ; Boroujeni MG³ ; Shojaeian F³ ; Oveissi S³ Show Affiliations
Source: Aging Medicine and Healthcare Published:2023

Abstract

Background/Purpose: There is a lack of accurate data on the burden of older adult abuse in Iran, and few studies have been done in this area. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of abuse and neglect in a selected population of Iranian older adults and assess its relationship with socioeconomic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 older adults aged 65 and older, referred to the Emergency Department of Imam Hossein, Loghman Hakim, and Tajrish Hospitals in Tehran. We assessed their mental health status and demographic characteristics. The Elder Abuse Questionnaire, including eight types of abuse and neglect, was completed by the participants. Finally, we investigated the prevalence of different kinds of older adults abuse and neglect and related risk factors among the participants. Results: Totally, 300 questionnaires were gathered. The mean age of the participants was 74.1±9.69, and 54% of them were women. Overall, 36.7% of them experienced at least one type of abuse during their life. The most frequent types of abuse and neglect were emotional neglect (25.5%), followed by psychological (17.7%), and financial (12.4%). Education, marital status, and the number of children were related to some types of older adult abuse and neglect. Conclusion: Older adults abuse and neglect, especially in the areas of emotional neglect, psychological, and financial abuse, is one of the most critical issues in today's Iranian society that might be caused by emotional, economic, and social values, as well as fading of religious beliefs and morals. © 2023, Asian Association for Frailty and Sarcopenia and Taiwan Association for Integrated Care. Published by Full Universe Integrated Marketing Limited.