Prevalence and Correlates of Elder Abuse in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

• Autores: Sergio L. Blay, Jerson Laks, Valeska Marinho, Ivan Figueira, Deborah Maia, Evandro S. F. Coutinho, Ines M. Quintana, Marcelo F. Mello, Rodrigo A. Bressan, Jair J. Mari, Sergio B. Andreoli
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 65, Nº. 12, 2017, págs. 2634-2638
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Ejemplar
• Resumen

  • Objectives:

    To assess the prevalence of elder abuse and to investigate potential sociodemographic, health behavior, and medical correlates.

    Design:

    Cross-sectional data were collected in face-to-face assessments.

    Setting:

    São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Participants:

    Individuals aged 60 to 75.

    Measurements:

    Information on elder abuse was obtained using the Brazil-adapted, nine-item Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test. Sampling design–adjusted descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used in analyses.

    Results:

    The overall prevalence of abuse was 14.4% (n = 46/259, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 9.82–20.61) in São Paulo and 13.3% (n = 27/197, 95% CI = 8.76–19.74) in Rio de Janeiro. Unadjusted analyses indicated that poor education, low physical activity, unemployment, heart disease, and psychiatric problems were associated with abuse, but in adjusted analyses, self-reported elder abuse was significantly associated only with psychiatric problems (São Paulo: OR = 4.48, 95% CI = 1.75–11.45; Rio de Janeiro: OR = 21.61, 95% CI = 6.39–73.14).

    Conclusion:

    Elder abuse is prevalent in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but whether concomitants of abuse are cause, effect, or both is unclear because this was a cross-sectional study. These findings highlight the importance of the problem, as well as the need to develop measures to increase awareness, facilitate prevention, and fight against abuse of elderly adults.