Elder Abuse: Risk Factors of Abuse in Elderly Community-Dwelling Iranians

Elder abuse is currently recognized internationally as a common problem with serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of old people. This study sought to produce an estimate of the prevalence of, and risk factors for, elder mistreatment and types of abuse in an urban Iranian population. A cross-sectional, population-based, descriptive study was conducted on 300 elderly, aged 60+ years, utilizing two health centers in Ahvaz, a province in central Iran in 2012. The participants were interviewed in their homes to collect data on risk factors and mistreatment, elder mistreatment being defined as abuse belonging to any of the four major forms: psychological, financial, physical or neglect by an immediate family member, in-laws, or relatives. Elder mistreatment was reported by 14.7% of the participants. Physical (70.4%) and neglect (61.4%) were the most common subtypes of total mistreatments. Univariate analysis showed the most consistent associations of abuse types to be with being female (OR=2.34, CI 1.17-4.69), with education (OR=0.36, CI 0.17-0.71), and with dependency on children for an income to live (OR=3.18, CI 1.57-6.41). A multivariable logistic model indicated income dependency to be the only predictor of mistreatment (OR=2.30, CI 1.10-4.81). Our data shows abuse of the elderly to be prevalent. That income dependency is the most important predictor of mistreatment of Iranian elderly suggests that addressing their income status with preventive intervention by establishing a social security system in Iran that provides for the elderly would have significant social welfare benefits.