Abuse and Its Relationship with Quality of Life Among the Elderly in a Nigerian Community Setting

Abstract

Background: Elder abuse, encompassing physical, emotional, financial, and neglectful acts, is a growing global public health concern with profound implications for older adults' well-being. Its prevalence is rising, particularly in community settings. Despite its impact, research on elder abuse and its consequences remains limited in Africa, highlighting the need for more focused investigation and culturally relevant interventions.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and types of abuse among community-living elderly in Ogun East Senatorial District and examine the relationship between abuse and Quality of Life (QoL) in the elderly.

Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design involving 402 elderly participants, using a structured questionnaire and the WHOQOL-AGE tool to evaluate QoL (scores range from 13 to 65, with values <39 indicating poor QoL and >40 indicating good QoL).

Results: Nearly all respondents (96.8%) experienced at least one type of abuse, with financial/material (61.4%) abuse being the most common. Always verbal abuse (p = 0.037) and often physical abuse (p = 0.012) showed strong associations with poor QoL. About two-thirds (62.2%) of participants had poor QoL.

Conclusion: This study revealed that abuse was highly prevalent among the elderly in the setting that was studied, especially financial abuse, which was significantly linked to poor quality of life. This highlights the need for targeted interventions such as integration of routine screening for elder abuse into healthcare and community services to ensure early detection and timely intervention. Legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms should also be strengthened to deter perpetrators and safeguard the rights of the elderly.