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Elder abuse and neglect in two different socioeconomic districts in Izmir, Turkey
Pembe Keskinoglu1, Metin Pýcakcýefe, Nurcan Bilgic
1Dokuz Eylul University, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Izmir, Turkey. pembe.keskinoglu@gmail.com
Objective:
To determine and compare the prevalence and risk factors of elder abuse in elderly population in two different districts in Izmir, Turkey.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study involved 497 subjects selected by cluster sampling.
Results:
The prevalence of physical and financial abuse among the elderly in the district of low socioeconomic status was 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively, while among the elderly in the district of high socioeconomic status, it was 2% and 0.3%, respectively. However, the prevalence of elder neglect in the two districts was 27.4% and 11.2%, respectively. Prevalence of neglect was associated with infrequent contact with relatives, little or no income, and fewer years of education among the elderly in the low socioeconomic district. In the high socioeconomic district, neglect was associated with fewer years in education, poor health status and having chronic status.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of abuse among the elderly living in the two different districts was low. However, nearly one-fifth of elderly people were exposed to neglect.