Abuse, Neglect, and Violence Against Elderly Women in Ghana: Implications for Social Justice and Human Rights

Sossou, Marie‐Antoinette; Yogtiba, Joseph A.

doi:10.1080/08946566.2015.1091423

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“… 38 However, NHIS enrolment can be seen as an instrument for improving health outcome of mothers 15 and for improving older women’s usage of healthcare and can act as a tool to narrow gender-related discrimination in access. Sossou and Yogtiba 39 point out that ‘the average elderly woman in Ghana is likely to be a rural dweller, widowed, living in an extended family household and poor’ (p. 423) and also that older women are often subject to abuse, neglect and violence. In Ghana, the decision-making power for allocating funds from the household budget for healthcare often lies with the male household head who tends to control access to and allocation of household resources.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does insurance enrolment increase healthcare utilisation among rural-dwelling older adults? Evidence from the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

2018

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IntroductionThis paper examines the relationship between national health insurance enrolment and the utilisation of inpatient and outpatient healthcare for older adults in rural areas in Ghana. The Ghanaian National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) aims to improve affordability and increase the utilisation of healthcare. However, the system has been criticised for not being responsive to the needs of older adults. The majority of older adults in Ghana live in rural areas with poor accessibility to healthcare. With an ageing population, a specific assessment of whether the scheme has benefitted older adults, and also if the benefit is equitable, is needed.MethodsUsing the Ghanaian Living Standards Survey from 2012 to 2013, this paper uses propensity score matching to estimate the effect of enrolment within the NHIS on the utilisation of inpatient and outpatient care among older people aged 50 and over.ResultsThe raw results show higher utilisation of healthcare among NHIS members, which persists after matching. NHIS members were 6% and 9% more likely to use inpatient and outpatient care, respectively, than non-members. When these increases were disaggregated for outpatient care, the non-poor and females were seen to benefit more than their poor and male counterparts. For inpatient care, the benefits of enrolment were equal by poverty status and sex. However, overall, poor older adults use health services much less than the non-poor older adults even when enrolled.ConclusionThe results indicate that NHIS coverage does increase healthcare utilisation among rural older adults but that inequalities remain. The poor are still at a great disadvantage in their use of health services overall and benefit less from enrolment for outpatient care. The receipt of healthcare is significantly influenced by a set of auxiliary barriers to access to healthcare even where insurance should remove the financial burden of ad hoc out of pocket payments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does insurance enrolment increase healthcare utilisation among rural-dwelling older adults? Evidence from the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

2018

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“…In sub-Saharan Africa, the literature on elder abuse has highlighted the roles of value shifts and ideological differences as critical contributors. Some recent studies in this direction have highlighted how cultural values that reverence the benefits of respecting and caring for older people are fast dwindling in the region (Akanle and Adeogun, 2014; Sossou and Yogtiba, 2015; Wumbla, 2018). In describing the state of earlier evidence, Oppong (2006) identified how cultural values, social ills, and economic challenges intersect to promote the vulnerability of older people across different settings in the African region.…”

Section: Social-cultural Factors Physical Elder Abuse and Neglectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Explanations around physical abuse, neglect and preventive strategies among older Yoruba people (60+) in urban Ibadan Southwest Nigeria: A qualitative study

Agunbiade

2019

Heliyon

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Older people's views, experiences and explanations on abuse and neglect in later life is marginal in the literature. With more cases of physical abuse and neglect in old age in sub-Saharan Africa, this study explored the views and positions of older people and community stakeholders like religious leaders on why physical elder abuse and neglect and preventive measures within community settings in Nigeria. An exploratory research design that consisted of two focus group discussions with older Yoruba men and women (60þ) and six semi-structured interviews with religious leaders (Christianity, Islam, and Traditional) guided the study. Based on thematic analysis, the findings revealed that older persons and religious leaders have multiple interpretations of physical elder abuse and neglect. Social ills, poor economic situation, evil machinations, and stereotypes and misconceptions of old age and spirituality are possible explanations for physical abuse and neglect. The intersecting nature of the factors promoting vulnerability to physical abuse and neglect in later life also emerged in the preventive measures suggested by older persons and community members. As such, the participants affirmed that most older persons are becoming conscious of vulnerability to abuse and do contest actions, relationships, and contexts that can reduce their vulnerability and earn more social acceptance. Nonetheless, the participants expressed worries over the absence of policies and legal frameworks that can protect older people against physical abuse and neglect. More worrisome was the growing spread of social ills, stereotypes around old age, poverty in old age, witchcraft accusations and ageism. These developments are compounding ageing experiences, including physical abuse and neglect in urban spaces in Nigeria.

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“…Although the extended family system in Ghana offers great support and protection to the aged [ 67 ], the increasing trend of urbanization and socioeconomic development has curtailed the traditional family care and protection for the aged [ 68 ]. Thus, many older people in Ghana are continuously exposed to neglect, abuse, and violent behaviours [ 69 ] which predispose them to an increased risk of suicide [ 20 ]. Meanwhile, despite the high rate of suicide among the aged population in Ghana, the bulk of media and public attention on suicide is limited to the youth and young adults [ 1 ], which contributes to the non-availability of interventions to prevent suicide among the older population [ 62 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex-related inequalities in crude and age-standardized suicide rates: trends in Ghana from 2000 to 2019

Adoboi,

Mohammed,

Duodu

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background Suicide represents a major public health concern, affecting a significant portion of individuals. However, there remains a gap in understanding the age and sex disparities in the occurrence of suicide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sex-related inequalities in suicide rates in Ghana from 2000 to 2019. Methods We utilized data from the WHO Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) online software. We analysed sex differences in both crude and age-standardized suicide rates in Ghana spanning from 2000 to 2019. Crude and age-adjusted suicide rates were calculated based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) definition and coding of suicide mortality. We measured inequality in terms of sex. Two inequality indicators were used to examine the suicide rates: the difference (D) and the ratio (R). Results Age-standardized and crude suicide rates in Ghana were higher among men from 2000 to 2019. Between 2000 and 2007, the age-standardized suicide rate for women rose steadily and declined slightly between 2008 and 2019. Age-standardized suicide rates for men increased consistently from 2000 to 2010, then declined steadily from 2011 to 2019. The crude suicide rates among men and women followed similar patterns. The widest absolute inequality in crude suicide rates (D) was recorded in 2013 (D=-11.91), while the smallest difference was observed in 2000 (D=-7.16). We also found the greatest disparity in age-standardized rates in 2011 (D=-21.46) and the least in 2000 (D=-14.32). The crude suicide rates increased with age for both men and women aged 15–54 years and 55–85+ years respectively. However, the increased rate was higher in men than in women across all age groups surveyed. A similar pattern was observed for relative inequality in both crude and age-standardized rates of suicide. Conclusion The suicide rate in Ghana has declined over time. Suicide is more common among older men. Inequalities in suicide rates, in both absolute and relative terms, are similar. There is a need to monitor suicide trends in Ghana, especially among older men. Moreover, the findings could serve as a basis for future studies on suicide in Ghana.

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Abuse, Neglect, and Violence Against Elderly Women in Ghana: Implications for Social Justice and Human Rights

Cited by 15 publications

References 4 publications

Does insurance enrolment increase healthcare utilisation among rural-dwelling older adults? Evidence from the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

Does insurance enrolment increase healthcare utilisation among rural-dwelling older adults? Evidence from the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana

Explanations around physical abuse, neglect and preventive strategies among older Yoruba people (60+) in urban Ibadan Southwest Nigeria: A qualitative study

Sex-related inequalities in crude and age-standardized suicide rates: trends in Ghana from 2000 to 2019

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