Caracterización y frecuencia del maltrato a adultos mayores en áreas urbanas

Abstract

This is a cross sectional population based study designed to describe the concept, frequency and characteristics of elderly mistreatment in a representative sample of 294 subjects in Concepción, stratified by age, socioeconomical and educational level. The data were collected in an anonimous questionnaire answered by functionally independent subjects, and statistically analized at descriptive and associative level. Mistreatment is conceived, as psychological in a 32.3% as physical damage in a 9.2, while a 2.7' o considers it as economical distress and 3.7% define it as neglect. For a 27.6'7• more than one of the four types is part of their concept and 1.4% believes mistreatment includes afí these forms. A 19.4% do not respond and in 3.7% the answer is unclassificable. As for personal experience of mistreatment 24.8Vo recognized to have had it. The most common form is psychological wirh a 57.5' e, t’ollowed by physical with a 17.8Uc. A 50.7' o has suffered it in many ocassions. The highest frequency of mistreatment occurs in the oldest age group (80 and more) with 3G.4% of those that have suffered abuse 267a did not ask for any help. Our results show that mistreatment is a clearcut concept for our elderly, and that is a frequent and repeated problem in them. This is the first community obtained data on elderly mistreatment in Chile and represent an initial step to study this serious problem in our population.