Aging & Social Change: Tenth Interdisciplinary Conference

Abstract

The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between disability conditions and elder abuse among the elderly population in India. Cross-sectional data from the UNFPA’s “Building Knowledge Base on Population Aging in India” (BKPAI- 2011) was used. We generated a 2+ disability variable by combining 2 and more than 2 disability. Multilevel logistic regression model was used to examine the association between disability and elder abuse. Results: The overall prevalence of elder abuse in the study population was 11.4 percent. The prevalence of disability increases the likelihood of elder abuse significantly. However, the size of effect is larger in urban areas. The association between disability and abuse is stronger in urban areas. Elderly in rural and urban areas with 2+ disability are 1.85 (95% CI: 1.28, 2.67, p<0.001), 3.49 (CI: 2.38, 5.13, p<0.000) times more likely to experience elder abuse, respectively. Similarly the size of effect is larger among female. The association between disability and abuse is strong in female population. Elderly in male and female with 2+disability are 1.85 (95% CI: 1.23, 2.77, p<0.003), 3.16 (CI: 2.22, 4.49, p<0.000) times more likely to experience elder abuse, respectively. Furthermore, economic status and educational attainment have a protective role in determining elder abuse in India.