Note From Iran: Self-Reported Elder Abuse in Qazvin, 2012 |
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Authors: | Sonia Oveisi Rana Karimi Manoochehr Mahram |
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Affiliation: | 1. Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iransoveisi@razi.tums.ac.ir;3. Student Research Committee, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran;4. Department of Pediatrics, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran |
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Abstract: | This brief report provides a first look at self-reported instances of elder abuse by a sample of people 60 years and older living in Qazvin, Iran. Six hundred community-dwelling persons, drawn from the registry files of each health center in Qazin, completed questionnaires during April to October 2012. At least 80% of the participants reported experiencing some form of psychological abuse, financial abuse, and/or neglect at least once during a 2-month period. Physical and sexual abuse were rarely reported. Despite a strong Iranian cultural emphasis on respect for elders, the self-reporting of elder abuse, especially psychological abuse, is greater than our expectation. We recommend that health-related policies and programs begin to identify elder abuse and neglect as a first step in prevention. |
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Keywords: | brief report elder abuse psychological physical financial neglect Iran |
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