Prevalence, pattern and predictors of elder abuse in rural communities of Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, pattern, and predictors of elder abuse in two rural communities in Edo State, Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: Individuals residing in rural communities in Edo state were studied.

Participants: Two hundred and thirty-two participants aged ≥ 60 years.

Main outcome measures: The prevalence and pattern of elder abuse, and predictors of abuse.

Results: The mean age of participants was 73.2±9.1 years, and the prevalence of elder abuse was 79.3%. The pattern of abuse observed was neglect (73.4%), financial abuse (64.1%) and emotional abuse (53.8%), with many of the perpetrators being children of the victims. Risk factors associated with abuse in this study included sex (p = 0.009), marital status (p = 0.028), employment status (p = 0.002), educational qualification (p = 0.001), living arrangement (p = 0.001), financial status (p = 0.017), and dependency level (p = 0.015). The top barriers to help-seeking by the elderly were stigmatisation (24.4%), fear of retaliatory assault (19.3%) and abandonment (19.4%) respectively.

Conclusion: Elder abuse is prevalent in the study area, with neglect being the most typical form of abuse and children of the victims are the major perpetrators. Consequently, concerted efforts to respect and care for the elderly should be directed by all stakeholders at the International, Federal, State, and Local Levels (including the community and family).

Funding: None declared.