The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Morteza Arab-Zozani; Noosheen Mostafazadeh; Zeinab Arab-Zozani; Djavad Ghoddoosi-Nejad; Soheil Hassanipour; Joaquim J F Soares

doi:10.1080/08946566.2018.1523765

The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Elder Abuse Negl. 2018 Nov-Dec;30(5):408-423. doi: 10.1080/08946566.2018.1523765. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Authors

Morteza Arab-Zozani¹, Noosheen Mostafazadeh², Zeinab Arab-Zozani³, Djavad Ghoddoosi-Nejad⁴, Soheil Hassanipour⁵, Joaquim J F Soares⁶

Affiliations

¹ a Iranian Center of Excellence in Health Management, School of Management and Medical Informatics , Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
² b Student Research Committee , Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.
³ c School of Nursing and Midwifery , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.
⁴ d Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health , Birjand University of Medical Sciences , Birjand , Iran.
⁵ e Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center , Guilan University of Medical Sciences , Rasht , Iran.
⁶ f Mid Sweden University, Department of Health Sciences and EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health , University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.

PMID: 30285554
DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2018.1523765

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in Iran.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO by the end of 2017. The prevalence was calculated based on the percentage or the amount reported in the studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I² statistic, and the data were combined using random effects model. The results were reported as the pooled estimates and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070744).

Results: A total of 16 studies involving 6,461 participants aged 60 years and over were included. The pooled prevalence for overall elder abuse was 45.7% (95% CI: 27.3-64.1, p < .001).

Discussion: The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect is substantial in the Iranian population aged 60 years and over. More research is needed to investigate the actual prevalence of elder abuse at the national level.

Keywords: Elder abuse; Iran; meta-analysis; neglect; prevalence; systematic review.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Elder Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
Humans
Iran
Prevalence