Screening of domestic abuse and its relationship with demographic variables among elderly individuals referred to primary healthcare centers of Shiraz in 2018
Authors: Mashayekh Maryam , Hazrati Maryam , Sharifi Nasrin 
Published: January 2020

BackgroundConsidering the global growth in the number of elderly individuals, elder abuse has turned into an important health challenge with significant effects on reduction of this vulnerable group’s health and security. The present screening study aimed to determine the prevalence of domestic abuse and its relationship with demographic characteristics among elderly people referred to primary healthcare centers of Shiraz in 2018.MethodsThis descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 elderly people aged 60 years and above who had referred to 30 comprehensive health centers of Shiraz. The study data were collected using observation, face-to-face interview, and examination. After obtaining the participants’ informed consents and making sure about their cognitive and mental health using mini-mental state examination, demographic information questionnaire, domestic abuse scale, Katz index, and observational elder neglect checklist were completed. Then, the individuals who were suspicious of abuse in the interview or observation were further evaluated through examinations and experiments.ResultsThe results indicated that 52.5% of the participants were female and 51.8% aged 60-69 years. Additionally, 74% of the participants were married, 53.3% were illiterate, and 49.8% were homemaker. Moreover, 52.8% of the participants had pensions, 87.8% lived in their own houses, and 67% lived with their spouses. The frequency of misbehaviors was as follows: care negligence, 42.8%; psychological abuse, 41.3%; emotional negligence, 38.8%; financial abuse, 34.3%; authority deprival, 29.5%; financial negligence, 28.8%; physical abuse, 5.3%; ostracism4.3%.The results showed a significant relationship among elder abuse and all abuse subscales. Education level was significantly related to financial negligence (p=0.003). Besides, having a pension was significantly associated with emotional negligence (p=0.019), care negligence (p=0.014), and financial negligence (p<0.001). A significant relationship was also observed among having a house and care negligence (p=0.026), authority deprival (p=0.004), and ostracism (p=0.025). Additionally, living status was significantly associated with emotional negligence (p=0.015), care negligence (p=0.008), financial abuse (p=0.034), and physical abuse (p=0.003). Health status also showed a significant relationship with financial abuse (p=0.040) and authority deprival (p=0.020). Indeed, insurance status was significantly associated with emotional negligence (p=0.040) and financial abuse (p=0.039). Finally, a significant relationship was observed among cognitive status and emotional negligence (p=0.015) and care negligence (p=0.005).ConclusionThe results revealed a considerable rate of domestic abuse against elderly people, causing a serious risk for their health and security. Therefore, various dimensions of this phenomenon have to be identified in order to create appropriate strategies for its prevention.