title: Prevalence and Risk Factors of Abuse among Community Dwelling Elderly of Guwahati City, Assam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of tremendous impact on health, elder abuse is still an underreported and unrecognized issue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of abuse among community dwelling elderly and to identify the various risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 randomly selected wards of Guwahati city. A total of 331 elderly (60 years and above) were interviewed. Abuse was screened by Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test (H-S EAST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed 9.31% prevalence. Neglect was the most common type of abuse reported. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, living status, and functional status were found to be significantly associated with abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abuse is prevalent among elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India.
authors.forename: Anku Moni
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saikia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India.
authors.forename: Neelakshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India.
authors.forename: Ajaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College, Barpeta, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Ashok Jyoti
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, India.
authors.forename: Arupjyoti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakati
keywords: Elderly abuse; Hwalek–Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test; maltreatment; risk factors