ID-5184 Wonca Abstracts supplement A-K 13-10-23 - Flipbook - Page 48
WONCA 2023 Supplement 1: WONCA 2023 abstracts (A–K)
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Screening for abuse and its correlates to promote wellness
among the elderly: A family physician’s experience
Dr Sarafadeen Adeniyi Arisegi1, Burka Grema2, Fatima Falaki1, Nicholas Baamlong3, Awosan K
Josephy1, Abubakar Kaoje1
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Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, 2Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano,
University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja
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Background
Care for the elderly is the sole responsibility of the person’s family. Abuse and neglect are unique
challenges and problems of the elderly. Research has been carried out on issues relating to the elderly
in the country, but the literature on elder abuse and its correlates is scanty in northern Nigeria.
Aim
This study assessed the prevalence of abuse and its correlates among elderly patients attending the
General Outpatient Department of Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Sokoto
State, Nigeria.
Materials and methods
This was a cross-sectional study among 371 elderly participants selected by a systematic sampling
technique. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the
research variables. Data were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 21 statistical computer software
package.
Results
The mean age of participants was 69.7 ± 8.7 years, the majority of them were female (n = 215;
58.0%), married (n = 284; 76.5%) and had an extended family structure (n = 225; 60.6%). Two hundred
and eighty-two (76.0%) had suspected elder abuse, while 323 (87.0%) perceived their family to be
dysfunctional. Only 65 (17.5%) were obese and 192 (51.8%) were hypertensive. Suspected elder abuse
was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with participants’ age, tribe, family type, marriage type, type of
household and employment status. Dysfunctional family, non-formal education, age above 75 years,
unemployed, polygamous type of marriage, extended type of family, multiple type of household and
family size greater than five were the main predictors of elder abuse.
Conclusion
Suspected elder abuse and dysfunctional family were prevalent among the participants. These findings
underscore the need for family physicians to raise awareness and screening for elder abuse at every
consultation and to involve family members in the care of the elderly to promote family functionality.
Key words
family functionality, elderly patients, elder abuse.
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