Risk of violence in elderly people in Brazil: representativeness of the age group
Violence; Aged; Elder Abuse; Aging
This study aimed to identify the association and risk factors according to the age group of the elderly. An observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was carried out with 200 elderly people assisted by Primary Care in Foz do Iguaçu-PR who were surveyed using instruments: sociodemographic and health characterisation, functionality (IADL), frailty (EFE) and depression (GDS-15) and risk of violence (H-S/EAST). The data was analysed using Excel software version 2010 and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Chi-square and Odds Ratio and 95% CI were used, with p-value < 0.05. For both age groups, the risk of violence was associated with schooling, functionality, depression and frailty. Of particular note was the 70+ age group, in which the risk of violence was also associated with race. All the results were significant for the group not at risk of violence. Violence against the elderly is a public health problem that needs to be addressed by health managers in order to implement new public policy strategies aimed at promoting and protecting this section of the population.