Selected Demographic Variables and Elder Abuse in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying the relationship between selected demographic factors and elder abuse in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. A survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of all male and female elderly persons aged 70 years and above. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select a sample size of 5,600 elderly. A structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentages to answer the research questions, while Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used in Hypotheses testing. Results revealed that emotional abuse was topmost form of abuse suffered by the elderly in the study, closely followed by financial and material abuse; and neglect and abandonment, while physical and sexual abuses were not common. The test of hypotheses revealed a low positive correlation between age, gender, marital, income level and emotional/ psychological, physical, sexual, and neglect/ abandonment of the elderly. The only exception was the relationship between income level and financial and material abuse, where no significant relationship was found. The study concluded that the problem of elder abuse was pervasive in Akwa Ibom State judging from the percentage reporting all forms of abuse. Based on the findings it was recommended that awareness campaigns be organised to inform the public on what constitutes abuse as most individuals are not aware that most of their actions and behaviours toward the elderly people constitute abuse. In addition, the state and federal governments should consider the institution of social security scheme for the elderly to improve their economic base, while laws protecting women's right especially widows should be formulated to ensure their safety as women have been found to suffer more abuse than men. Introduction Recent global reports reveal an ageing population, implying an increase in the proportion of older people aged, sixty-five and above. Population ageing may be due to improved nutrition, declining infections, better standard of living, prospects in education, health care and biomedical technology (Nwabueze, 2001). Hurme (2002) opined that the changed and changing demographics around the world point to an increased potential for abuse.