title: Elder abuse among outpatient department attendees in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abuse of older people is a hidden problem. Some believe that it is less in Asian societies as the extended family is a protective factor. The real extent of the problem however, is not researched adequately in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at the North Colombo Teaching Hospital on 530 consecutive adults above 60 years of age attending the out-patient department. The Hwalek-Sengstock elder abuse screening test with modifications to address socio-cultural differences was administered. A brief demographic questionnaire and questions on past and present abuse were also included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 530 elders studied, 32 (6%) were above 80 years of age and the mean age was 68.5 years. Male to female ratio was 1:2. Abuse, either physical, psychological, verbal or neglect was reported by 239 (45%) elders. Physical abuse was reported by 5.6%. The screening test revealed that the study population was vulnerable to psychological and financial abuse. Total overall rate of abuse was 38.5%. Loneliness was reported by 26%. Of the caregivers, 22% were financially dependent on the elders. Having more than three children was a risk factor for psychological and financial abuse and being single was a risk factor for psychological abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical, emotional and financial abuse of elders were reported in our study population. A limitation of this study was that it studied elders who sought treatment at a tertiary care hospital. Community studies will be needed to establish the true prevalence of elder abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. anuruddhi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: P A S
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Edirisinghe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paranitharn
authors.forename: W N S
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D012307:Risk Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063128:Tertiary Health Care