The revictimization of older Mexican women: understanding the accumulation of multiple victimizations throughout a lifetime

Liliana Giraldo-Rodríguez,Dolores Mino-León,Marcela Agudelo-Botero,Sergio Olinsser Aragón-Grijalva

doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02734-5

Abstract

BackgroundThe victimization of women constitutes a human rights violation and a health risk factor. The central objectives of this study were to analyze the probability of revictimization among older adult Mexican women and to examine whether child abuse (CA) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with a greater risk of elder abuse (EA) victimization.MethodsWe conducted a secondary data analysis of 18416 women 60 and older, based on data from the National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (2016), which is national and subnational representative. A descriptive analysis was carried out using retrospective self-reports of victimization experiences (CA, IPV, and EA). The prevalence of victimization and multiple victimizations in the various stages of the lives of women, as well as of revictimization among older adult women were obtained. Bayesian logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between victimization, multiple victimization, and EA victimization.ResultsA total of 17.3% of the older adult women reported EA in the last year; of these, 81.0% had been revictimized and 14.0% reported CA, IPV, and EA. The risk of EA rose among women who reported a combination of psychological and sexual CA, and psychological, physical and sexual CA and psychological and sexual IPV, and a psychological, economic, physical and sexual IPV. EA was higher among women who had suffered more than one type of violence.ConclusionCA and IPV, particularly sexual abuse and psychological violence, can be risk factors for EA. Screening tools used to prevent and detect EA should include questions about domestic violence over the course of a person’s lifetime.

Highlights

The victimization of women constitutes a human rights violation and a health risk factor
The central objectives of this study were to analyze the probability of the revictimization of older Mexican adult women and to examine whether child abuse (CA) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with a greater risk of elder abuse (EA) victimization
Data sources The data for this study is drawn from the 2016 National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (In Spanish, Encuesta Nacional sobre la Dinámica de las Relaciones en los Hogares [ENDIREH-2016]), a national and subnational representative survey that collected information on the physical, economic, sexual, psychological, and patrimonial violence experienced by women 15 and older in their various life environments

Summary

Introduction

The victimization of women constitutes a human rights violation and a health risk factor. The victimization of women constitutes a clear human rights violation and a physical and mental health risk factor [1]. Between 12 and 20% of older Mexican women (60 and older) have reported having suffered recent (past 12 months) psychological, physical, financial, or economic violence; neglect, or sexual abuse [6, 7]. Older women face social, economic, and health disadvantages. This means greater poverty, a high prevalence of chronic diseases, geriatric syndromes, frailty, disability, and a lower quality of life— factors that have been associated with elder abuse [8,9,10]. As is the case around the world, women in Mexico live longer than men, albeit in poorer health [11]

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