Prevalence and Risk Factors of Elder Abuse and Neglect it in Western City of Turkey: A Community Based Study

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate elder abuse and neglect among the elderly with in the family, identify risk factors, and evaluate the elderly’ suggestions and expectations for ageism in a western city in Turkey. This community-based study was conducted on 756 elderly using cluster, simple random, and systematic sampling methods. Results show that 14.2% of the participants suffered from any type of abuse and neglect; according to subtypes, 8.1% reported psychological, 7.6% neglect, 3.5% financial, 2.9% physical, and 0.4% sexual abuse. Associated risk factors among each subtype were found as; participants who had worse morale status increased the risk by 3.603, 95%CI(1.606-8.084), and those who had social exclusion increased the risk by 1.084, 95%CI(1.034-1.136) in terms of having a greater risk of psychological abuse. The variables that increased the risk of suspected neglect were worse morale status increasing the risk by 6.920, 95%CI(1.930-24.813), and social exclusion increasing the risk by 1.108, 95%CI(1.052-1.168). Because abuse and neglect may have serious effects on the elderly’s health and well-being, it is important to identify different risk factors according to each subtype in order to combat violence against older people.