# Prevalence, pattern and predictors of elder abuse in rural communities of Edo State, Nigeria

## TL;DR

This study found that elder abuse is common in rural Edo State, Nigeria, with neglect being the most frequent type and children often being the abusers.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the prevalence and patterns of elder abuse in rural Nigerian communities.

## Key findings

- The prevalence of elder abuse was 79.3%, with neglect being the most common form.
- Children of the victims were identified as the main perpetrators of abuse.
- Factors like gender, marital status, and financial status were significant predictors of abuse.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, pattern, and predictors of elder abuse in two rural communities in Edo State, Nigeria.

A cross-sectional study.

Individuals residing in rural communities in Edo state were studied.

Two hundred and thirty-two participants aged ≥ 60 years.

The prevalence and pattern of elder abuse, and predictors of abuse.

The mean age of participants was 73.2±9.1 years, and the prevalence of elder abuse was 79.3%. The pattern of abuse observed was neglect (73.4%), financial abuse (64.1%) and emotional abuse (53.8%), with many of the perpetrators being children of the victims. Risk factors associated with abuse in this study included sex (p = 0.009), marital status (p = 0.028), employment status (p = 0.002), educational qualification (p = 0.001), living arrangement (p = 0.001), financial status (p = 0.017), and dependency level (p = 0.015). The top barriers to help-seeking by the elderly were stigmatisation (24.4%), fear of retaliatory assault (19.3%) and abandonment (19.4%) respectively.

Elder abuse is prevalent in the study area, with neglect being the most typical form of abuse and children of the victims are the major perpetrators. Consequently, concerted efforts to respect and care for the elderly should be directed by all stakeholders at the International, Federal, State, and Local Levels (including the community and family).

None declared