Factors contributing to elder abuse in Ethiopia
| Published date | 13 April 2015 |
| Pages | 99-110 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2014-0026 |
| Date | 13 April 2015 |
| Author | Samson Chane,Margaret E. Adamek |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
Factors contributing to elder abuse in
Ethiopia
Samson Chane and Margaret E. Adamek
Dr Samson Chane is an
Assistant Professor, based at
Department of Social Work,
Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar,
Ethiopia.
Dr Margaret E. Adamek is a
Professor, based at School of
Social Work, Indiana University,
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of elder abuse in Ethiopia by considering
the perspectives of abused elders.
Design/methodology/approach – A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the lived
experience of 15 elders (six men, nine women) in Ethiopia who experienced domestic abuse. Data were
collected using unstructured interviews and were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.
The results described here focus on Ethiopian elders’ perceptions of factors contributing to abuse.
Findings – Themes identified in elders’ statements about the factors contributing to elder abuse included:
declining respect for elders, conflicts of interest, poor health, mutual dependency and other economic
issues, and loss of support providers. Abject poverty was evident as an underlying influence contributing
to abuse. One elder stated, “Life is meaningless without food and without a caregiver. I am ready to
welcome death.”
Research limitations/implications – Documentation of elder abuse is needed to bring recognition to
abuse as a problem deserving public attention and response.
Practical implications – Given the apparent influence of poverty-related factors on the occurrence of elder
abuse among the study’s participants, policy initiatives are needed to enhance the economic well-being
of older adults in Ethiopia.
Originality/value – Since elder abuse is generally not viewed as a societal problem in Ethiopia, there have
been very few studies documenting its existence. Research on elder abuse in Ethiopia and other developing
nations can help to bring the issue to the attention of communities and authorities.
Keywords Mental health, Phenomenology, Older people, Lived experience, Elder abuse, Global ageing
Paper type Research paper
Elder abuse is an emerging global problem that has been identified as an important research
agenda for the twenty-first century (United Nations Programme on Aging, 2007). Yet, compared
to the USA, Canada, Australia and some European count ries, elder abuse remains
under-researched in Latin America, Asia, and Africa (Podnieks et al., 2010). Walsh et al.
(2010) criticized the current status of global research on elder abuse for its failure to incorporate
diverse samples, relying heavily on quantitative methods, and giving little attention to
investigating the lived experiences of older people themselves. While a few cross-national
studies have examined elder abuse in Europe, the USA, and Canada (e.g. Buzgova
´and
Ivanova
´, 2009; Crome et al., 2014), no such comparisons exist for the African continent.
Two volumes which report on elder abuse in different countries each include one African
nation – South Africa (Kosberg and Garcia, 1995) and Kenya (Phelan, 2013). The relative inattention
to elder abuse in developing countries is out of sync with the growing extent of the problem.
The World Health Organization (2008) predicted that rapid population growth in developing
countries coupled with socioeconomic problems is likely to increase the vulnerability of elders
to abuse. In the developing world, including Africa, millions of older people suffer from poverty
and lack access to basic necessities; 80 percent of elders have no regular income and
The researchers are grateful for the
funding support from both Addis
Ababa University and Bahir Dar
University in Ethiopia.
DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2014-0026 VOL. 17 NO. 2 2015, pp. 99-110, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAGE 99
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