Prevalence and factors associated with violence and abuse of older adults in Mexico’s 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey

Abstract

BackgroundFactors associated with violence and the abuse of older adults are understudied and its prevalence in Mexico has not been reported. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with violence and abuse of older adults in Mexico.MethodsWe used Mexico’s 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey, which included a sample of 8,894 individuals who are 60 years or older and who self-reported a negative health event related to robbery, aggression or violence in the previous 12 months. We used chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test to analyze the variables related to violence. Adjusted estimates were completed with multiple logistic regression models for complex surveys.ResultsThe prevalence of violence was 1.7 % for both men and women. In 95 % of the cases, the aggression was from an unknown party. Verbal aggressions were the most prevalent (60 %). Among men, physical aggression was more common. Violence frequently occurred in the home (37.6 %); however, men were primarily assaulted in public places (42.4 %), in comparison to women (30.7 %). There were also differences in the risk factors for violence. Among men, risk was associated with younger age (60–64 years), higher education (secondary school or above) and higher socioeconomic status. Among women, risk was associated with depression, not being the head of the family, and region of the country.ConclusionsViolence against older adults presents differently for men and women, which means it is necessary to increase knowledge about the dynamics of the social determinants of violence, particularly in regards to the role of education among men. The relatively low prevalence found in this study may reflect the difficulty and fear of discussing the topic of violence. This may occur because of cultural factors, as well as by the perception of helplessness perpetuated by the scarce access to social programs that ensure protection and problem solving with regards to the complex social determinants of individual and family violence that this population group endures.

Fatores de risco para a ocorrência de violência contra a pessoa idosa: revisão sistemática

“…Considerando os critérios de inclusão, foram analisados 13 artigos, verificando-se diferenças nas definições conceituais e na metodologia, descritas com maior detalhe adiante. [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]…”

“…Nos estudos analisados (Tabela 2), verificou-se que os anos com maior número de publicações sobre este fenômeno foram 2015 (n=3) e 2012 (n=3); e que foi nos EUA que houve maior número de contribuição para o conhecimento desta matéria. 28,30,35,37,39 Tabela 1. Escala de Newcastle-Ottawa adaptada para a avaliação da qualidade dos estudos, utilizando a definição de violência contra a pessoa idosa segundo a WHO 3…”

“…Os estudos têm sido direcionados, na sua maioria, para indivíduos com 60 ou mais anos de idade. 33,34,[36][37][38][39]41,43,45 Outros integram grupos etários de indivíduos com 65 ou mais anos de idade. 35,40,44 Em relação à definição de violência, na quase totalidade dos estudos é utilizada uma definição semelhante ou igual à proposta pela WHO 3 , à exceção de dois estudos em que apenas são apresentados os tipos de violência, mas sem ser definido este conceito.…”

Older adults abuse in three Brazilian cities

“…In Mexico, a study with a sample of 8,894 older adults reported abuse in the twelve months prior to the study, highlighting verbal abuse (62.9%), followed by physical aggression (32.3%), especially against women (18.7%). Although research indicates a predominance of psychological and/or verbal abuse, the evaluation of the other types depends on more refined instruments (22) . In a systematic review of the literature, Dong (23) found a variety of studies on the subject and identified the prevalence of some forms of abuse against the older adult depending on the population, location, definition and method of research.…”

Prevalência de violência por parceiro íntimo em idosos e fatores associados: revisão sistemática

“…Violence also has a social impact on the lives of the elderly, contributing to low self-esteem, social isolation and feelings of insecurity, reinforcing negative aspects of old age 14 . Studies [15][16][17] dealing with elder violence tend to analyze the elderly as victims of abuse in most cases by caregivers or relatives, and intimate partner violence is still a scarce approach in the literature. This fact may be embedded in the understanding that violence does not occur among elderly partners, masquerading as neglect or family violence, since the caregiver may be the intimate partner.…”