Abstract
The activities of insurgent groups like Boko-Haram have led to the displacement of millions of Nigerians, including a large population of older people who are made more vulnerable to new and old challenges associated with aging. Our study used qualitative art-based graphic elicitations and interviews to collect data on older people’s experiences of abuse while living in displacement in Abuja, Nigeria. The data were analysed thematically, and our findings revealed that displacement increased abuse, and the vulnerability of co-migrant family members led to widespread neglect. This abuse caused perceived fear and anxiety, increased health problems, risk of destitution and normalization of abuse. We concluded by recommending the provision of education and cultural re-orientation by gerontological social workers to increase identification, reporting, and intervention, and the adoption of the National Policy on Internal Displacement, which guarantees the protection and social security of older people in displacement.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
02 November 2022
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-022-09393-3
References
Adejumo, O. A., Ntoimo, L., Odimayo, M. S., Adebimpe, W. O., Okiei, B., Osungbemiro, W., Olajuyigbe, E., Igbafe, K., Temitayo-Oboh, A., Faboya, T., Oludiran, O., & Okonofua, F. E. (2021). Experience of gender-based violence by internally displaced women in southern Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211001464
Ekoh, P. C., Chukwu, N. E., & Okoye, U. O. (2021). Aging in rural Nigeria: gendered exclusion of rural older adults and its impact on their perceived life satisfaction in South-East Nigeria. Journal of women & aging, 1?13. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2021.1999734
Akpan, D. I. (2013). An Assessment of the Prevalence of Elder Abuse and Neglect in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Developing Country Studies, 3(5), 8–14. iiste.org/Journals/index.php/DCS/article/view/5493
American Psychological Association (2010). Elder abuse and neglect: In search of solutions.https://www.apa.org/pi/aging/resources/guides/elder-abuse
Anifalaje, K. (2017). Implementation of the Right to Social Security in Nigeria. African Human Rights Law Journal, 17(2), 413–435. https://doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2017/v17n2a4
Balogun, A. D., Salleh, M. A., Bin, & Ahmad, A. A. (2020). The effects of Boko Haram insurgency on the internally displaced children in Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(2), 786–813. DOI:https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i2/7010
Bravington, A., & King, N. (2019). Putting graphic elicitation into practice: tools and typologies for the use of participant-led diagrams in qualitative research interviews. Qualitative Research, 19(5), 506–523. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794118781718
Cadmus, E. O., & Owoaje, E. T. (2012). Prevalence and correlates of elder abuse among older women in rural and urban communities in South Western Nigeria. Health Care for Women International, 33, 973–984. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2012.655394
Calvi-Parisetti, P. (2011). Older people a displacement.https://www.fmreview.org/sites/fmr/files/FMRdownloads/en/fragilestates/calviparisetti.pdf
Correa, V. I., Bonilla, Z. E., & Reyes-MacPherson, M. E. (2011). Support Networks of Single Puerto Rican Mothers of Children with Disabilities. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(1), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9378-3
De Oliveira, I. R., Nascif-Junior, I. A., & Rocha, S. M. M. (2010). Promoting health in families of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 16(2), 106–111. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2009.01806.x
Dong, X. Q., Simon, M. A., Beck, T. T., Farran, C., McCann, J. J., de Leon, M., & Evans, D. A. (2011). Elder abuse and mortality: The role of psychological and social wellbeing. Gerontology, 57, 549–558. doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000321881
Dong, X., Simon, M., & Evans, D. (2013). Elder self-neglect is associated with increased risk for elder abuse in a community-dwelling population: Findings from the Chicago Health and Aging Project. Journal of Aging and Health, 25, 80–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264312467373
Agbawodikeizu, P., Ekoh, P. C., Ebue, M., Ajibo, T., Atama, S. & Okoye, O. (2019) Knowledge of what constitutes gender-based violence among adult residents of Igbo-Eze North LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria and practice implications for social workers. Journal of Social Work in Developing Societies, 1(2): 42-58. https://journals.aphriapub.com/index.php/JSWDS/article/view/863
Ekoh, C. P., Okoye, O. U., Agbawodikeizu, P. U., George, E. O., & Ejimkaraonye, C. (2021). Changes in family structures and roles, and its impact on older people in displacement in Abuja, Nigeria. Journal of Population Ageing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-021-09332-8
Ekoh, P.C., Agbawodikeizu, P.U., George, E.O., Ezulike, C.D., & Okoye, U.O. (2021). More invisible and vulnerable: the impact of COVID-19 on older persons in displacement in Durumi IDP camp Abuja, Nigeria. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 22(3/4), 135-146. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-10-2020-0049
Ekot, M. O. (2016). Selected demographic variables and elder abuse in Akwa Ibom State Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 6(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v6-i2/2000
Ferreira, M., & Lindgren, P. (2008). Elder abuse and neglect in South Africa: A case of marginalisation, disrespect, exploitation and violence. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 20(2), 91–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/08946560801974497
Garnham, B., & Bryant, L. (2017). Epistemological erasure: The subject of abuse in the problematization of ‘elder abuse’. Journal of aging studies, 41, 52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2017.04.001
Handicap International & HelpAge International (2014). Hidden victims of the Syrian crises: disabled, injured and older refugees. https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/40819
Hatzidimitriadou, E. (2010). Migration and ageing: settlement experiences and emerging care needs of older refugees in developed countries. Hellenic Journal of Psychology, 7(1), 1–20. https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/873z1/migration-and-ageing-settlement-experiences-and-emerging-care-needs-of-older-refugees-in-developed-countries
HelpAge International (2018). Older people in displacement: Falling through the cracks of emergency responses.https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/12292.pdf
HelpAge International and Internally Displacement Monitoring Center (2012). The neglected generation: the impact of displacement on older people.https://fiapam.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/helpage-theneglected-01.pdf
Ho, C. S., Wong, S. Y., Chiu, M. M., & Ho, R. (2017). Global prevalence of elder abuse: a meta-analysis and meta-regression. East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 27, 43-55https://www.easap.asia/index.php/component/k2/item/771-1703-v27n2-p43
Internal Displacement Monitoring Center [IDMC] (2021). Global report on internal displacement 2021.https://www.internal-displacement.org/global-report/grid2021/
Isgandar, H., & Ilesanmi, O. I. (2020). Perceived public support of internally displaced persons (IDPs) during the covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. International Journal of Public Administration. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2020.1790597
Isokpan, A. J., & Durojaye, E. (2017). Impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on the child’s right to education in Nigeria. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal, 19, 1–43. https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2016/v19i0a1299
Joseph, B., Khalil, M., Zangbar, B., Kulvatunyou, N., Orouji, T., Pandit, V., & Davis, J. W. (2015). Prevalence of domestic violence among trauma patients. JAMA Surgery, 150(12), 1177–1183. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26352398
Kapborga, I., & Berterö, C. (2002). Using an interpreter in qualitative interviews: Does it threaten validity? Nursing Inquiry, 9(1), 52–56. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1800.2002.00127.x
Mobolaji, O. G., & Kamal, O. (2021). Elder abuse in southwest Nigeria: Do age group and religious affiliation play any impact? Gender & Behaviour, 19(2), 18153–18158. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gab/article/view/212891
Nikander, P. (2008). Working with transcripts and translated data. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 5(3), 225–231. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14780880802314346
Nwabughiogu, L. (2015). March 12). Abuja Area One IDPs camp: A place of tears, uncertainty. Vanguard Newspaper
Rodrigues, R. A. P., Monteiro, E. A., Santos, A. M. R., Ponte, M. L. F., Fhon, J. R. S., Bolina, A. F., & Silva, L. M. (2017). Older adults abuse in three Brazilian cities. Revista Brasileira De Enfermagem, 70(4), 783–791
Scherer, L. (2016). Children’s Engagements with Visual Methods through Qualitative Research in the Primary School as ‘Art that Didn’t Work. ’ Sociological Research Online, 21(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.3805
Titilope, A. G., Zakuan, U. A. A., & Osman, N. (2019). The challenges of integration among internally displaced women in selected internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 8(07), 556–564
Umoquit, M., Tso, P., Varga-Atkins, T., O’Brien, M., & Wheeldon, J. (2013). Diagrammatic Elicitation: Defining the Use of Diagrams in Data Collection. The Qualitative Report, 18(30), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1487
United Nations. (2015). Second world assembly on ageing. United Nations Publications. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WPA2015_Report.pdf
United Nations (2017). World Population Ageing Report.http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/WPA2017_Report.pdf
United Nations High Commission for Refugees [UNHCR] (2021). Older persons.https://www.unhcr.org/older-persons.html
Wamara, C. K., Bennich, M., & Strandberg, T. (2021). Missing voices: older people’s perspectives on being abused in Uganda. Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect, 1–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08946566.2021.1970682
World Bank (2021). Fragility, conflict and violence.https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/fragilityconflictviolence/overview#1
World Health Organization [WHO] (2007). Age friendly cities: A guide.https://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf
Wu, L., Shen, M., Chen, H., Zhang, T., Cao, Z., Xiang, H., & Wang, Y. (2013). The relationship between elder mistreatment and suicidal ideation in rural older adults in China. American Journal of Geriatrics and Psychiatry, 21(10), 1020–1028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.036
Yan, E. (2015). Elder Abuse and Help-Seeking Behavior in Elderly Chinese. Journal of interpersonal violence, 30(15), 2683–2708. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514553628
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Ekoh, P.C., Okah, P., Onalu, C. et al. Experiences of Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Lugbe, Abuja, Nigeria. Population Ageing 15, 943–957 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-022-09388-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-022-09388-0