Factors Associated with Abuse and Neglect of the Elderly Peoples of Chitmahal Areas in Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study applied different statistical tools to determine abused and neglected status among elderly people of the Chitmahal areas of Bangladesh. Also investigated the factors that associated with abuse and neglected status. The present study is conducted at the former Chitmahal areas which are situated at four districts namely Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Panchagar in Northern Bangladesh. Among the total 141 Chitmahal areas, 36 Chitmahal areas are randomly selected for the study area and finally 270 elder families are included for this research purpose. Information about socio-demographic, economic, health status, abuse and neglected related characteristics of the respondents and their family members was collected by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Elder abuse and neglect is the widespread issue in the world. This study found that most of the elder people (71.5%) of Chitmahal areas were neglected and abused in any form. Separately they were abused by psychologically (50.4%), financially (60.4), treatment related neglect (40%) and physically (1.5%). Most of them were neglected by their family members which mostly happened in the families with low monthly income and expenditure. The factors like age of elder people, educational level, previous and present occupation of respondents, ownership of house, monthly family income and expenditure, people’s participation in social occasion are the common significant factors for different types of abuse and neglected status of the aging peoples of Chitmahal areas in Bangladesh. The overall findings found a close relationship of abused and neglected status of the elderly peoples with their socio-economic, educational background and family economic condition. This information needs to be properly utilized in developing suitable social and motivational programs for elder families in the Chitmahal areas and countrywide by NGO’s and Government initiatives.