PREVALENCE OF ELDER ABUSE AND SUB-TYPES IN SOUTH ASIA - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Eliana

Elder abuse is a critical public health and human rights issue in South Asia, intensified by patriarchal norms, family-centered caregiving, and insufficient institutional support. A systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of community-based elder abuse and its subtypes among adults aged 60+ across South Asian countries and examined gender differences in abuse experiences. A comprehensive search found 33 studies, yielding an overall prevalence of 31.8%, with women reporting higher rates than men.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background and Aim

Methods

Findings

Conclusions and Implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 597 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2045 PREVALENCE OF ELDER ABUSE AND SUB-TYPES IN SOUTH ASIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS Aman Shrestha1, Saruna Ghimire2, Krishna Prasad Sapkota2, Isha Karmacharya2, Indrajit Ghosh3, Ahmed Danquah2, Nicole Shelawala1, and Emily Gorman1, 1. University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 2. Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States, 3. Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Elder abuse is a critical public health and human rights issue, particularly in South Asia, where patriarchal norms, familycentered caregiving and inadequate institutional support exacerbate the issue. Despite global focus, regional data on elder abuse in South Asian countries are limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of community-based elder abuse and its subtypes among older adults (≥60 years) in South Asia and explored the gender differences in abuse experiences. A comprehensive search of six databases and gray literature identified 33 relevant studies from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Data were extracted using Covidence, and study quality was assessed with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models, with heterogeneity evaluated via the I² statistic. Most studies were from India (n = 21) and Nepal (n = 7), with an overall elder abuse prevalence of 31.8%, ranging from 25.8% in India to 49.9% in Nepal. Women experienced higher abuse rates (33.0%) than men (24.3%) . Caregiver neglect and psychological abuse (around 20% each) were the most common, disproportionately affecting women. Physical abuse (3.9%), financial exploitation (8.0%), and sexual abuse (0.7%) were less frequent, with women experiencing higher abuse in all categories except sexual abuse. This study underscores the significant prevalence of elder abuse in South Asia, with women being disproportionately affected, emphasizing the urgency for culturally appropriate interventions. Targeted policies and community-driven initiatives are essential to combat elder abuse, enhance eldercare, and safeguard vulnerable populations in the region.

FAQs

What problem does the study address and where is it focused?

The study addresses elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue, focusing on South Asia. It highlights how patriarchal norms and limited institutional support worsen the problem.

How was the evidence gathered and assessed?

The review searched six databases and gray literature, identifying 33 relevant studies from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Data were extracted using Covidence and quality was assessed with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

What were the main prevalence and gender findings?

The overall community-based elder abuse prevalence was 31.8%, ranging from 25.8% in India to 49.9% in Nepal. Women experienced higher abuse rates (33.0%) than men (24.3%).

Which elder abuse subtypes were most and least common?

Caregiver neglect and psychological abuse were the most common subtypes (around 20% each). Sexual abuse was the least common at 0.7%, while physical abuse was 3.9% and financial exploitation was 8.0%.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Eliana