Elder abuse as a likely risk factor for adverse health related outcomes. Its incidence and recognition in Mexico city

Liliana Giraldo Rodríguez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Studies designed to estimate the prevalence or incidence of the maltreatment of non institutionalized elders, or "elder abuse in domestic settings", have varied considerably in their research methodologies and sources of data. MAIN OBJECTIVE To describe the characteristics of elder abuse in the population in Mexico City. This will be reached across a probability sample of the elderly taken from the population in a specific geographic location. PRINCIPAL FINDS The first probabilistic survey was conducted in 2006 in the Federal District. Reported prevalence is 16%, much higher than previous reports from abroad. As many as 12.7% were victims of psychological abuse, 3.9% economic abuse, 3.7% were physically abused, 3.5% were neglected or abandoned and 1% were sexually abused (Giraldo, 2006) data from this survey has not been fully exploited.