Prevalence And Associated Factors Of Elder Abuse In One Rural Area Of Anhui Province: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective To explore the Prevalence of elder abuse in one rural area of Anhui China,and to examine the Epidemic differences in different sex and different aged people. To explore the influence of socio demographic, family environment and psychological factors for elderly abuse, and to investigate and identify risk factors and protective factors of elderly abuse and various types of elderly abuse, accordingly to provide evidence for the elderly abuse prevention strategies and measures to provide a theoretical basis.Methods Selected Dangtu County in Maanshan City Anhui Province as the study site,a cluster sample of one town from Dangtu County, elder people with age is more than or equal to 60 years old and no obstacles in language communication as the research object. The research group used the questionnaire comprehensive evaluated the health status of the elderly accompanied by village doctors. Investigators with systematic training carry out the household survey after the consent of the elderly "informed consent" of the questionnaire. A total of 3182, the elderly were involved in the survey.Analysis using chi square test to compared the difference between gender and age groups of elderly abuse detection rate, and the use of multivariate logistic regression analysis technology on the base of adjustment for relevant confounders, and to explored the influencing factors of elderly abuse and different types of elderly abuse.Results 1. The detection rate of elder abuse in one rural area of Ma’anshan city in Anhui province was 9.9%, detection rate of various types of abuse from high to low was the psychological abuse(9.1%), neglect(2.9%), physical abuse(1.9%) and economic exploitation(0.4%). The detection rate of elder abuse in the elderly women was 10.7%, higher than the elderly men with detection rate was 8.7%, the difference was not statistically significant. Detection rate of elder abuse within 60-69 age group was 7.6%, detection rate of elder abuse within 70-79 age group was 11.1%, detection rate of elder abuse within more than or equal to 80 age group was 13.7%. With the growth of age, detection rate of elder abuse showed a rising trend, the overall difference between the groups was statistically significant. 2. Multiple logistic regression showed that risk factors for elderly abuse include: a high degree of culture,religion, number of children, living with a spouse, number of illness, worse daily life ability, moderate to severe pain and depression. Better social support was a protective factor for the elder abuse. 3. The high degree of education, the prevalence in larger quantities and depression were the risk factors for physical abuse of the elderly.Religious belief, a high degree of education, large number of children, illness quantity,worse daily life ability and depression were risk factors for psychological abuse within the elderly. A high degree of education and depression are the risk factors for the economic exploitation of the elderly. Older age, living with a spouse, sick in larger quantities, depression were risk factors for the neglect of elderly.Conclusions Elder abuse had relatively low detection rate in one rural area of Maanshan, Anhui Province. Detection rate of elderly abuse within different gender was not significantly different. Detection rate of various types of abuse was on the rise with age elevation. Higher degree of culture, religion, number of children, living with a spouse, illness quantity, worse ability of daily life, moderate to severe pain and depression were risk factors for elderly abuse, depression was the main risk factors for elder abuse and better social support was a protective factor for old people of various types of abuse. Effective prevention strategies should be taken to reduce the incidence of abuse in the elderly.