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

Author(s):Show less -

Blay, Sergio L. ^[1] ; Laks, Jerson ^{[2, 3]} ; Marinho, Valeska ^[2] ; Figueira, Ivan ^[2] ; Maia, Deborah ^[4] ; Coutinho, Evandro S. F. ^[4] ; Quintana, Ines M. ^[1] ; Mello, Marcelo F. ^[1] ; Bressan, Rodrigo A. ^[1] ; Mari, Jair J. ^[1] ; Andreoli, Sergio B. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Psychiat, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[3] Univ Grande Rio, Postgrad Program Translat Biomed, Caxias - Brazil

^[4] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Natl Sch Publ Hlth, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY; v. 65, n. 12, p. 2634-2638, DEC 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

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: Sao 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 Sao 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 (Sao 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 Sao 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 . (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/02246-5 - Investigation of the brain connectivity patterns associated with psychotic experiences throughout infancy and adolescence and the genetic and environmental modulation
• Grantee: Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• FAPESP's process: 04/15039-0 - Post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, physiopathology and treatment
• Grantee: Jair de Jesus Mari
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants