Missing voices: older people's perspectives on being abused in Uganda

Abuse of older people is a major challenge for people who are aging. Studies into older people's perspectives on abuse focus mainly on developed countries, while the views of those in sub-Saharan Africa remain largely unheard in social research. To address this imbalance, we report a qualitativ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of elder abuse & neglect 2021-08, Vol.33 (4), p.288-310
Main Authors: Wamara, Charles Kiiza, Bennich, Maria, Strandberg, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abuse
adult
Aging
clinical article
Developed countries
Developing countries
Discrimination
disrespect
elder abuse
female
Harassment
human
human experiment
Human rights
LDCs
male
Older people
older people's rights
older persons
organization
perception
Qualitative research
semi structured interview
uganda
voice
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Summary:Abuse of older people is a major challenge for people who are aging. Studies into older people's perspectives on abuse focus mainly on developed countries, while the views of those in sub-Saharan Africa remain largely unheard in social research. To address this imbalance, we report a qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to examine older people's perceptions of abuse in Uganda. Thirty-three participants were selected from four districts of Uganda to reflect different locations, levels of development, cultures, and contexts. Behaviors considered abusive were categorized into five themes: economic abuse, harassment and violence, disrespect, neglect and abandonment, and discrimination. Results showed that participants largely viewed their abuse from a cultural perspective, contrary to the West's perception based on a discourse of human rights. The findings show the need for a broader definition that includes the cultural dimensions of the abuse of older people in developing societies.
ISSN:0894-6566
1540-4129
1540-4129
DOI:10.1080/08946566.2021.1970682