Prevalence of elder abuse and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of elder abuse and associated factors among community-dwelling older adults Kerman province, Iran. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 200 elderly people in Kerman were included using multi-stage sampling. 51.4% of the elderly reported abuse. 17.5% reported physical abuse, 20.9% reported verbal abuse, and 26.4% reported non-verbal abuse. Also, 11.5% reported self-neglect and 6.5% were neglected by others. 11.4% of the elderly reported abandonment and 14.9% reported financial abuse. There was a significant relationship between economic stress and neglect (P = .01), the risk of abuse in the elderly with a very good health status was about 50% less than that in others (P < .001). Elderly experience different types of abuse. Therefore, proper knowledge of elder abuse, especially emotional abuse and its related factors, including economic stress and health status, can increase knowledge and sensitivity of society, in order to avoid this dilemma.