Socio-economic inequality in the prevalence of violence against older adults – findings from India

Abstract

Background Violence against older adults is a well-recognised socio-psychological and public health problem. It is uncared-for, undiagnosed, and an untreated problem that is widespread across both developed and developing countries. The present paper aims to understand the extent of the socio-economic status related inequality in violence against older adults in India. Methods The study uses data from Building a Knowledge Base on Population Aging in India (BKPAI). Violence against older adults is the outcome variable for the study and is defined as older adults who faced any abuse or violence or neglect or disrespect by any person. Bivariate analysis and regression-based decomposition technique is used to understand the relative contribution of various socio-economic factors to violence against older adults (N = 9541). Results The prevalence of violence faced by older adults was 11.2%. Older adults aged 80+ years [OR: 1.49; CI: 1.14–1.93] and working [OR: 1.26; CI: 1.02–1.56] had higher likelihood to face violence than their counterparts. On the other hand, older adults who were currently in union [OR: 0.79; CI: 0.65–0.95], lived with children [OR: 0.53; CI: 0.40–0.72] and who belonged to richer wealth quintile [OR: 0.35; CI:0.24–0.51] had lower likelihood to suffer from violence than their counterparts. The decomposition results revealed that poor older adults were more prone to violence (Concentration index: − 0.20). Household’s wealth status was responsible for explaining 93.7% of the socio-economic status related inequality whereas living arrangement of older adults explained 13.7% of the socio-economic related inequality. Education and working status of older adults made a substantial contribution to the inequalities in reported violence, explaining 3.7% and 3.3% of the total inequality, respectively. Conclusion Though interpretation of the results requires a cautious understanding of the data used, the present study highlights some of the relevant issues faced by the country’s older adults. With no or meagre income of their own, older adults belonging to the poorest wealth quintile have little or no bargaining power to secure a violent free environment for themselves. Therefore, special attention in terms of social and economic support should be given to the economically vulnerable older population.

Prevalence of multi-morbidities among older adults in India: Evidence from national Sample Survey organization, 2017-18

“…Similarly, 9 in their study found that higher females, individuals from higher income groups had higher odds of reporting multimorbidity as compared to their counterparts. At the same time, socio-economic inequality was also found to be more significant with violence against older adults 10 The results of the primary study conducted by 11 in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala suggests that multimorbidity was observed in one of two participants in the age group 30-69 years and diabetes with hypertension was the most common multi-morbidity observed among the study population. Apart from these non-communicable diseases the older adutls also suffer from age-related health issues such as includes hearing loss, cataracts and refractive errors, back and neck pain, etc.…”

Violence in old age: social representations elaborated by elderly people

“…The poorer, the greater the possibility of abuse and aggression, clarifying that it is not just the physical condition that determines such acts against the elderly. 22,23 The most common abuses directed at the elderly are physical, psychological, sexual and financial. The men participating in this study more commonly identified situations related to physical and sexual aggression as violence.…”

Violência na velhice: representações sociais elaboradas por pessoas idosas

“…Quanto mais pobre, maior a possibilidade de abusos e agressões, esclarecendo que não é apenas a condição física que determina tais atos contra idosos. 22,23 Os abusos mais comuns dirigidos aos idosos são de ordem física, psicológica, sexual e financeira. Os homens participantes deste estudo identificaram mais comumente as situações ligadas à agressão física e sexual como sendo violência.…”