Elder Abuse in the Iberian Peninsula and Bolivia: A Multicountry Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Elder abuse is a significant global issue affecting vulnerable populations.
• Understanding regional variations and risk factors is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of elder abuse in family and community settings in Spain, Bolivia, and Azores.
• To identify risk factors and profile abused older persons.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive cross-sectional study involving individuals aged 65+.
• Utilized medical records, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADL, APGAR, EASI, and Social Work Evaluation Form.
• Multivariable logistic regression identified abuse-associated factors.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of suspected abuse: 6.9% in Spain, 39% in Bolivia, 24.5% in Azores.
• Psychological abuse was the most common form across all regions.
• Abused older persons shared similar profiles across the studied countries.

Conclusions:

• Elder abuse is present in Spain, Bolivia, and Azores, with varying prevalence.
• Findings are comparable to other developing and European countries.
• A consistent profile of abused older persons emerged across diverse regions.