Violence against older adults treated in hospital institutions: a comparative study of two cities in Paraíba

Abstract

Objective To report the prevalence of and identify sociodemographic and economic factors associated with physical and psychological abuse among hospitalized older individuals. Method A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at two hospitals in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Data collection took place between 2019 and 2020 for a sample of 323 older individuals. Brazil Old Age Schedule instruments were used to collect sociodemographic characteristics and the Conflict Tactics Scales Form R were used to identify abuse. Descriptive analysis (relative and absolute frequency) and inferential analysis (Pearson's chi-square test, Spearman's Correlation, and logistic regression) were performed. Results There was a significant association between physical abuse and the variables income ≤1 minimum wage (p=0.048), other sources of income (p=0.019), ≥6 people dependent on income (p=0.016) and total income that "falls a little short" of meeting needs (p=0.010). Concomitant physical and psychological abuse was associated with other sources of income (p=0.015) and "falls a little short" of meeting needs (p=0.005). Other sources of income (p=0.049; OR=3.134), income score (p=0.000; 0.999), and disease score (p=0.014; OR=1.393) remained in the logistic regression model for physical abuse, whereas only disease score remained (p=0.006; OR=1.286) in the model for psychological abuse. Conclusion Physical abuse was more prevalent among individuals with lower income or higher number of diseases, while psychological abuse predominated among participants reporting more diseases. Additionally, individuals with alternative sources of income had a three-fold higher chance of experiencing physical abuse.