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Volume 5 Issue 11 (November, 2017)

Original Articles

Risk Factors Associated with Abuse among Elders- A Cross Sectional Study
Manoj Kumar

Introduction- The impact of abuse on physical and psychological health of the victims as well as quality of life is enormous. Abuse can exacerbate chronic and disabling condition of older person and make the person more dependent, vulnerable, and marginalized. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and type of abuse among elderly and to study the various risk factors associated with it. Materials & Methods- It included 260 elderly people of 15 local wards of both gender. Modified Kuppuswamy’s Scale was used for assessment of socioeconomic status. Barthel Index was used for determining functional status. Financially independent elders were those who had one or other means of current income which was sufficient for self-maintenance. H-S EAST was used to detect the elders at risk of abuse. Results- Abuse was present in only 8 in males and 18 in females with prevalence rate of 10%. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In age group 50-64 years, abuse was present in 6, 65-80 years (8) and >80 years (12). The difference was significant (P< 0.05) more as age group advances. Those living with spouse only had significantly higher abuse cases (20) as compared to living with spouse and children (6). Those with lower socio- economic status had higher abuse cases (10) as compared to middle (8) and upper (8) class. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). Those who were dependent had significantly more cases (19) as compared to independent (7). Physical abuse was present in males (6) and females (18), neglect in males (7) and females (16), verbal abuse in males (6) and females (15) and financial abuse in males (5) and females (17). The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Main perpetrators were son (52%) followed by spouse (385), daughter in law (75) and others (3%). The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion- The number of elderly abuse is increasing day by day. Various causative factors are dependency, lower socio-economic status, higher age group. This matter needs more attention.
Key words- Abuse, Elder, Perpetrator.

Corresponding author: Dr. Manoj Kumar, Professor and HOD, Department of Community Medicine, Venkateshawara Institute of Medical Sciences, Gajraula, Amroha, U.P., India
This article may be cited as: Kumar M. Risk Factors Associated with Abuse among Elders- A Cross Sectional Study. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2017;5(11):41-44.

 
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