Elder abuse and its sociocultural factors from the perspectives of Kurdish rural older people: Does gender matter?

Abstract

We aimed to explore the meaning of elder abuse and its sociocultural factors from the perspectives of Kurdish older people. We purposively selected the participants, 38 female and 17 male, from a rural area in Boukan country, Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions and were analyzed applying conventional content analysis. Researchers finally characterized viewpoints of the participants into two themes including structural changes in family interactions and changes in sociocultural values. Public education about moral norms and enactment of supportive laws for elderly people may help minimize elder abuse.

Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate deputy of research and technology for their valuable supports and all the elderly people who participated in this project as well as the authorities and personnel of health center in Rahimkhan village for their generous cooperation with the researcher.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (grant number 5/53/5370–08/11/2015).