Climate Migrant Elderly Abuse and Neglect: A Study in Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh

· To observe the socio-economic status of the study respondents.

· To explore the nature and extend of elderly women abuse.

· To find out the self-stated reasons of elderly women abuse.

This study represents the measurement of mental stress status of climate migrant urban poor women slum dwellers in Dhaka city in Bangladesh context. Furthermore, these are some Rational which cannot ignore:

· This study will be more useful for academic purpose in worldwide.

· This research will be helpful for taking preventive measurement against climate migrant elderly women abuse and neglect.

· This study will be helpful for any of the family member to safeguard their older women from abuse and neglect.

The policy makers of Bangladesh may be benefited from this study for developing policy against abuse and neglect among climate migrant older women.

Many national and international researches have been conducted on elderly abuse and neglect. Recently, a few studies have examined issues, factors and consequences of the elderly abuse and neglect using empirical evidence based on living arrangements and health status.

In a study in 2010 examined about the socio-economic backdrops, living arrangements, health status and abuse of the women aged 60 years and older in the rural Naogaon district of Bangladesh are examined. The data were collected from seven villages by using probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling and the results show that an overwhelming majority of the elderly women in the age group 60-69 years who are widowed, illiterate, have no education and income, economically dependent, living with married children, unhealthy, suffer from arthritis related illness and are taking treatment from village doctors. Furthermore, the study shows that, nearly 35 percent elderly women are abused, mostly mentally abused due to poverty. Logistic regression analysis reveals the determinants of living arrangements, health status and abuse of the elderly women ⁸.

In another study in 2017 represented to collect qualitative facts concerning the nature of elder abuse and neglect in Bangladesh and to find out the causes and impacts of this malpractice. The study categorized older people into ten broader classes and selected four old persons purposively under each category for an in-depth case study. In addition, Focus Group Discussion, Key Informants Interview and observational methods were also used to draw supplementary data. The results show that all old persons interviewed, irrespective of socio-economic status, came up against varying degrees of abuse and neglect by their families, relatives and communities that resulted in their physical ill-health and mental distress. Financial and physical abuses were found more frequent among poor and weaker sections, whereas psychological abuse appeared as severe among those belonging to the middle and affluent classes. Families having strong religious practices and a long tradition of taking care of the elderly were less subjected to elder mistreatment. As is revealed, along with various other factors, degradation of moral and religious values, new family structure and the lower socio-economic status of old people were associated with the maltreatment they faced. Socio-economic insecurity and a poor institutional mechanism for old persons cause a higher incidence of elder abuse and neglect in Bangladesh, which calls for immediate action from all levels. Key words: ageing, elder abuse, Bangladesh, aged ⁹.

The Book Abuse of the elderly in Chapter 5 revealed that background the abuse of older people by family members, definition of elder abuse, the threat of violence in the United Republic of Tanzania, the extended of the problem, the risk factors for elder abuse, the consequences of elder abuse, and prevention of elder abuse ¹⁰.

An additional study in 2010 based on the data collected from 7 villages of rural areas under Naogaon district, about 36 km away from Rajshahi divisional town of Bangladesh. From all the unions of the Thana, a Union (9 Number Tintulia Union Parishad) was randomly selected and from this union 7 villages were selected by using probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling. All the elderly (743 elderly) persons aged 60+ years were interviewed during September 6 to September 16, 2007. The data were edited, compiled, computerized and processed by using SPSS 10.5 program. Among the elderly women group is the most likely victims of abuse. The study also brought to light that illiteracy, unhealthy physical condition, utmost economic dependence of the already poverty-stricken family makes the elderly susceptible to elder neglect and abuse. The overall findings seems to suggest close relationship of abuse of the elderly with their socio-economic and educational background and this piece of information needs to be scientifically utilized in developing suitable programs addressing the elderly of the developing countries as well as Bangladesh ¹¹.

Most of the writers give importance on factors, issues and consequences behind elderly abuse and neglect and show how the problems affected the lives of the people of world and Bangladesh. Bangladeshi writers did not mention the climate change and migration also have some linkage between elderly women abuse and neglect in slum areas. Thus there is a research gap and as such this study has been planned. For this perspective, this paper study only climate migrant elderly women abuse and neglect in slum areas in Dhaka city to consider for up gradation and advancement of living.

It conducted both quantitative and qualitative types study. This study have been conducted through quantitative approach because of representing some specific point of view of their life in abuse and neglect. Besides, the study conducted through qualitative method because qualitative methods are often regarded as providing research data about people’s real life and situations which are more able to make sense of behavior within its wider context. In this research paper a case study of language and contexts that emphasizes the natural flow of older women social life.

Two Slums of Dhaka city where older women migrated for climate change have been selected as research area. General information have been collected from the Korail slums Mohakhali and Shahjadpur slums area of Dhaka. These two areas have been selected because of convenient of the researcher. The target groups of the respondents are the lower class older women who were migrated from their home land to Dhaka city because of any kinds of climate effects.

The area of Jilppar slum located at Shahjadpur nearby Shajadpur Lake beside Manaratat International University. It is situated under Dhaka North City Corporation. Shahjadpur is a ward under number 18. Latitude and longitude of the Shahjadpur slum area is 23.791241and 90.42245 (Figure a).

Figure a.Jilpar slum Shahjadpur

Korail, one of the largest slums in Bangladesh, is located just opposite the BRAC Head Office in Dhaka. Home to around one lakh people, who include 28,000 voters, Korail Bosti is spread over 90 acres of government land in Mohakhali. People have been living there since 1990. It is also situated under Dhaka North City Corporation. Korail slum is a ward under number 20. Latitude and longitude of the Korail slum area is 23.784822 and 90.404326 (Figure b).

Figure b.Korail slum Mohakhali

In this research all older women who migrated because of climate change in Dhaka City from various palaces of Bangladesh have been selected as the population of the study. The respondents have been suffered different types of natural hazards including flood (e.g. river flood, urban flood and flash flood), cyclone and storm surges, drought, soil salinity, river bank erosion, tornadoes for their respective field about climate change effects.

Apurposive sampling used to select two slums in Dhaka city. So that it has been easier and comfortable to run the study on these areas. Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling method and it occurs when “elements selected for the sample are chosen by the judgment of the researcher. Researchers often believe that they can obtain a representative sample by using a sound judgment, which will result in saving time and money”. Purposive sampling is a sampling technique in which researcher relies on his or her own judgment when choosing members of population to participate in the study. Purposive sampling method may prove to be effective when only limited numbers of people can serve as primary data sources due to the nature of research design and aims and objectives. A total of 50 participants have been interviewed. The respondents belonged to the age 60 years and above. A total of 2 respondents interviewed as an individual case for representing actual scenario of abuse and negligence of climate migrant elderly women in slum of Dhaka city.

The information have been collected through the in-depth interview that complied with qualitative analysis. For this study, it observed physically and contact with selected cases. Primary data have been collected from selected samples through face to face interview using interview schedule and observation.

KII includes household’s socio-economic factors characterizing living conditions, physical environment, dietary practice and health outcome analyzed by applying statistical technique, frequency distribution.

Primary data have been gathered by using field study. The field study primarily offers a vulnerability survey of climate migrant of older women using interview schedule. Interviews have been conducted with families as well as key informants at certain points of the migration routes of climate migrants. KII (Key Informant Interview) have been used to collect information about respondents from their family members and neighbors.

A pre-tested, modified, semi structured, self-administrated interview schedule designed based on living condition of the climate migrant older women in Dhaka city.

Firstly the collected data from research area have been edited. Then it classified according to its characteristics. All respondents data outcome have been analyzed by applying statistical technique, frequency distribution. Collected data processed with the help of Excel (2016 version) and the data have been measured with numerical value against each item of the variable. For represent two special case, proper way of analyzing case study used to analyze data.

After analyzing some data have been presented in descriptive way and a quantity of data presented in statistical line of track. Data have been presented to use different data presentation such as multi variant table and figurers (pie chart, bar chart etc.).

The aim and purpose of the study were explained with the participants and then different questions were asked to them on the basis of that they expressed their response and comments. All the participants were given assurance of confidentiality before conducting interview. The interview was conducted with privacy as much as possible. Alongside these, the study also tries to level best to show respect to all the participants in the same manner and maintain local norms, values and believes in all respect.

In the part of building conceptual framework through the using of literature review and secondary source of data in this research there are some limitations in terms of ethical consideration. I didn’t able to get permission from the main author for using his or her book and works as a reference but I have tried to give proper credit by using citation of their name through APA style of referencing.

The results description has been made with obtained data and presented that with tables, charts, diagrams and by other formats.

Based on survey data, only 16% of older women have no education in Korail slum and only 12% of elderly women have no education in Shahjadpur slum. However, 68% in Korail and 70% in Shahjadpur slum respondents have to do sign only (sign only clarify the respondents who can sign only their name, illiterate make clear that there have no education and no skill to do sign their name) and 10% respondents have some sort of primary education in Korail and 12% respondents have some sort of primary education in Shahjadpur slum. Besides, there have not found any of the respondents educated above SSC. Figure 1, Table 1.

Figure 1.Level of education of the respondents

According to survey data, 56% of the respondents in Shahjadpur and 58% of the respondents in Korail Slum had to get married within 12-15 years. Figure 2, Table 2.

Figure 2.Age of marriage

36% of the respondents in Shahjadpur slum and 28% of respondents in Korail slum were married whereas 64% of Korail slum and 72% of them were widow. Figure 3, Table 3.

Figure 3.Respondents marital status

During the study it has been seen that 30% of the respondent migrated because of Cyclone and no agricultural work available during the off-season (Monga period). Among the respondents 20% of them migrated for the reason of river erosion. Figure 4, Table 4.

Figure 4.Environmental reasons for migrating

Major portion (84%) of climate migrant older women migrated as a whole family in Korail slum and (80%) of climate migrant older women migrated as a whole family in Shahjadpur slum. Figure 5, Table 5.

Figure 5.Types of migrants

According to survey data, 60% of the respondents in both slum live with family. Figure 6, Table 6.

Figure 6.Family companion

Women although scholars express a difference of opinion I the definition of the term “elder abuse” ¹². ¹³. In developing countries elderly population forms a large and vulnerable group suffering from high level of physical, economical and social insecurity. Though there are great socio-economic variations within the elderly population which make the care for the elderly more complex and challenging, a consideration of factors personal, familial, economical combines together resulting in elder abuse ⁸.

Among the respondents, the greatest percentage that is 88% of the respondents were abused in Korail slum and 84% abused in Shahjadpur slum. Figure 12, Table 12.

Figure 12.Were they abuse?

In the study time it has been notices that respondents wanted to live with their family members. But because of negligence of their family members they try to separate from them even though in crisis period. They stated that they were more abused then male elderly. Because of no power in the family and some cases ignorance. Figure 13, Table 12.

Figure 13.Abuser of the respondents

During the study time it has been found that most of them neglected by family members in Korail (72%) and Shahjadpur slum (76%). From their statement it is focused that most of them abused by their family members, in some by their husband, their child and caregivers. Sometimes they were self-neglected because of frustration and in some case of ignorance.

There are different types of abuse and neglect. The most common are physical, social, mental and financial. There are other types of neglect which called self-neglect with neglect the older person fail to meet their own physical, psychological and social needs.

In this study, elderly climate migrant women are mentally abuse (Korali slum = 91%) (Shahjadpur =81%) more than other abused and neglect in slum areas in Dhaka city. Figure 14, Table 14.

Figure 14.Nature of elderly abuse

The elderly climate migrant women stated that they were abused financially because of family disorganization and financial crisis. Actually elderly women have no power and have no contribution for they family also another important reason for abuse and neglect. Figure 15, Table 15.

Figure 15.Pattern of financial abuse

According the survey, most of the respondents (both Shahjadpur and Korail slum =95%) are abused and neglected financially with the patterns of lack of interest towards fulfill their demands. 86% in Shshjadpur slum and 82% in Korail slum are affected financial abuse and neglect with the pattern of discriminate in getting old age allowance. 82% in Shshjadpur slum and 81% in Korail slum are impeding property consumption. Forcible capture of land and stealing money also other pattern of financial abuse and neglect for climate migrant elderly in Dhaka city slums.

Some of the respondents mentioned that they are physically abused and neglect by their near and dear ones. Most of the cases they are physically abused and neglected by their children. As a result some of them separated from their family and live alone. Figure 16, Table 16.

Figure 16.Patterns of physical abuse and neglect

Around 33% in Shahjadpur slum and 36% in Korail slum respondents faced physical abuse and neglect without hitting any reasons, 23% in Korail and 24% in Shahjadpur slum abused by shook. Slap, push and kick also other pattern of physical abuse and neglect for climate migrant elderly in Dhaka city slums.

Most of the respondents mentioned that they feel loneliness, hinder from express opinion and unexpected behavior are the noticeable pattern of psychological abuse and neglect. They also faced devaluation, rebuke and threat to punishment as patterns of psychological abuse and neglect. Figure 17, Table 17.

Figure 17.Patterns of psychological abuse and neglect

Elderly women are affected by different types of mental abuse and neglect and for that they are separated from their family and affected by self-neglect especially elderly women who were migrating after any king of disaster from their home land. Deprived situation motivated them to neglected by themselves because of their lack of knowledge and well-mannered attitudes towards their family members. Respondents of this study mentioned that for ignorance towards the family members, relatives and some of social people they abused and neglected themselves. Figure 18, Table 18.

Figure 18.Pattern of self-neglect

After analysis data, elderly climate migrant women faced different types of self neglect such as separation form others, depression, inferiority, angry for without any cause, health carelessness, and irregular food habit. Most of the respondents (Shahjadpur slum= 57%) (Korail Slum=36%) feel depression.

During the study it has been seen that 88% of the respondents have health complains in shahjapur slum where as 92% of respondents have health complains in Korail slum. Figure 19, Table 19.

Figure 19.Health complanes of the respondents

Elderly people suffer from various types of diseases. Fever/headache, asthma, gastric, weakness of eyesight, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac diseases and teeth problem and others is the common diseases in old age. Among them 84% in Korail slum and 80% in Shahjadpur slum have weakness of eyesight. Another acute disease in Korail slum 80% and Shajadpur slum76% have faced teeth problem. Figure 20, Table 20.

Figure 20.Types of diseases of the respondents

In this study most of the elderly climate migrant women checks their health in government hospital, private hospital/doctors, dispensary, homeopathic. Sometimes used different types of religious term. (Those respondents who believe in religious term, they went to traditional healers. This study identified both religious and non-religious healing practices. The key religious healing practices reportedly included Kalami, Bhandai, and Spiritual Healing, whereas the non-religious healing practices included Sorcery, Kabiraji, and Home Medicine. Both patients and healers practiced self-medication at home with their indigenous knowledge. Kabiraji was widely practiced based on informal use of local medicinal plants in rural areas.

Healers in both Kalami and Bhandari practices resorted to religious rituals, and usually used verses of holy books in healing, which required a firm belief of patients for the treatment to be effective. Sorcerers deliberately used their so-called supernatural power not only to treat a patient but also to cause harm to others upon secret request. The spiritual healing reportedly diagnosed and cured the health problems through communication with sacred spirits. Although the fee for diagnosis was small, spiritual healing required different types of treatment instruments, which made the treatment implicitly expensive). Even some of the respondents can not want ro go to doctor because of their financial condition. Maximum respondent 56% in Korail slum and 52% of Shahjadpur slum check their health problems in government hospitals. Figure 21, Table 21.

Figure 21.Sctors of treatment place

When elderly women affected any kinds of diseases to do not want to make any crisis towards their family members and relatives. Respondents of this study neglected pattern are unwilling to buy medicine, neglect towards disease, reluctant to attend on, reluctant to go to doctor and forcible work respectively. Most of the elderly climate migrant women reported multiple health problems. When they faced disease they were unable to take care of themselves, they depends on others and neglected by their family, relatives and sometimes people of society by forcible work during illness, reluctant to attend on, to buy medicine and to go to doctor. Figure 22, Table 22.

Figure 22.Patterns of health related abuse and neglect

The real scenario of the slum of Dhaka city is in poverty, superstitious, lack of awareness and lack of knowledge about balance nutrition and proper health care among the people. Lack of financial support they could not eat fish. Meat, milk and fruits regularly. Most of the respondents (100%) take rice and (92% in Korail slum and 84% in Shahjadpur slum) vegetable as their daily food. Sometimes they take bread (56% in Korail and 64% in Shahjadpur). Some of them have can take egg (48% in Korail and 40% in Shahjadpur), if its possible to manage from their money. Figure 23, Table 23.

Figure 23.Pattern of food habit

Now a days, pattern of family structure changed. Eldely women are neglected through providing of insufficuent, unhygienic and innutritious food. They are also neglected through seving nesserry food in saparate place place and they also faced food discrimination. Maximum respondents get food supply unhygienic (in Shahjadpur =90% and Korail =95%). They also mentioned that they get food insufficient in Shahjadpur slum 95% and Korail slum 91%. They also faced various patterns of food related abuse are late serving of meal, food discrimination, away from serving time and serving insufficient food. Figure 24, Table 24.

Figure 24.Patterns of food related abouse and neglect

No one can live without accomodation. After disaster the have a great lose of economic and financial. After coming dhaka city the bound to live in small house with low facilities because of the bound to live in cottage with low facilities because of their financial crisis. As a result after coming Dhaka elderly women faced discrimination for proper accommodation. Above them 68% in Shshjdpur slum and 67% in Korail slum have not sufficient facilities for accommodation. Some of them 48% in Shahjadpur slum and 41% in Korail slum live in balcony. 52% of respondents in Shahjadpur slum and 45% of respondents in Korail slum live in other people’s house. Figure 25, Table 25.

Figure 25.Patterns of accomodation related abuse and neglect

In some cases there have not good relation of elderly women with their sister in lows. As a result their son’s can not ful fill their demand. From survey data, 90% in shahjadpur slum amd 91% in korail slum have insufficient cloths. 76% in Shshkadpur slum and 77% in Korail slum have low quality cloths. 57% in Shahjadpur slum and 59% in Korail slum respondents have cloths insufficiency to protect cold. Some of them have old and useless cloths and some of them have faced problem that their family members unwilling to give cloths. Figure 26, Table 26.

Figure 26.Pattern of costom related abuse and neglect

Elderly women naturally like to spend ther time with family members for mental satisfaction. Respondents of this study mentioned that the recreational facilities especially television, radio, religious work and gossip with neibours are insufficient. In some cases they have not any facilities for their recreation. Most of the respondents in the study area (84% in Korail slum and 80% in Shahjadpur slum) spend their time in house and sometimes gossip with the neighbour. Figure 27, Table 27.

Figure 27.Recreation elements

Now a days, joint family is broken and the single family is increasing day by day. So that relative and childrens of the respondents do not priority their parents recreation related demand. Among the respondents (95% in Shahjadpur slum and 94% in Korail slum) family members are unwilling to take them outside. On the other hand, (76% in shahjadpur slum and 77% in korail slum) family members disappointed to their parents from watching religious program on TV. Some times they face veto from gossiping and reluctant to provide recreational tools. Figure 28, Table 28.

Figure 28.Patterns of recreation related abuse and neglect

Elederly climate migrant respondents of the study area are abused and neglected because of family violence or family disorganization. Almost 90% in Shahjadpur slum and 91% in Korail slum respondents of the study area abused and neglected because of family violence. Elderly abused and neglected in the study area because of changing of family pattern, poverty, family crisis, migration to the home land, dependency on others, chronic illness, inability of work, unbalanced property distribution and others. Figure 29, Table 29.

Figure 29.Cause of abuse and neglect

According to the respondent opinion there have various causes of health related abused and neglect. Some of them said they faced gret crisis for health related abuse and neglect. Some respondent mention join families are creasts many issues. Relatives of elderly women do not want to spend their money for health, some of the have financial problems, some of them think that its excessive expenditure or not emphasis or waist of time or as a burden. Most of them (91% in Shahjadpur slum and 90% in Korail slum) faced the problem because of financial crisis. Figure 30, Table 30.

Figure 30.Causes of health related abuse and neglect

It has been seen that the 95% respondents in the both study area Shahjapur and Korail slum faced food related issues abused and neglect because of financial problem. They also faced abused and neglected in some cases other issues are thinking of relatives of respondent’s excessive expenditure. Some times their not emphasis or carelessness to the elderly. Figure 31, Table 31.

Figure 31.Causes of food related abuse and neglect

Among the respondents 77% in Korail and 86% in Shahjadpur faced house hold related problem because of financial problem and accommodation problem. 95% in Shahjadpur Slum and 86 % in Korail slum respondents faced household related abuse and neglect as a result of family disorganization. Sometimes they faced household related abused and neglected reasons of member’s reluctance to live together and illness of them and any other family members. Figure 32, Table 32.

Figure 32.Causes of household related abused and neglect

Acceding to the study financial crisis is acute. The reason behind costume related abused and neglected is not emphasis and unwilling ness about giving costume as much they need. Some of them replied that their relatives think that to fulfill their costume need is an excessive expenditure. Figure 33, Table 33.

Figure 33.Cause of castume related abuse and neglect

It has been seen that the 81% in Shahjadpur slum and 82 % in Korail slum respondents in the faced recreation related issues abused and neglect because other family members want to watch different programs with not match with elderly chose. They also faced abused and neglected 81% in shahjadpur slum and 82% in Korail slum because not giving emphasis to the elderly recreational issues. Sometimes they get negative impression and loss of dignity from others. Figure 34, Table 34.

Figure 34.Causes of recreation related abuse and neglect

48%, 16%, 28%, 8% climate migrant elderly women have no power, less power, moderate level of power, high level of power and 0% means there have no one elderly climate migrant women in Korail slum who can hold very high level on the basis of their family. Figure 36, Table 36.

Figure 36.Level of power

On the other hand, 56% climate migrant elderly women have no power in Shahjapur Slum, 12% have less power and 24% have moderate level of power, besides 4% of respondents have high and very high level of power in their extended family where have not present any male elderly person.

According to the study, the respondents noticed that they do not get societal support (28% in Korail and 32% in Shahjadpur) as much the desire. Besides, they did not get proper benefit from the Government (36% in Shahjadpur and 32% in Korail) and Non-government support (24% in Shahjadpur and 20% in Korail) in proper way. Figure 37, Table 37

Figure 37.Pattern of Support (Multiple answer were possible)

In old age the people want to company and want to share their view to others. But they do not get company whatever they desire. They also worried about their physical condition and security. As result they have some opinion for uplift their life. Among them 88% in Korail slum and 84% in Shahjadpur slum respondent thing that family support is essential to uplift their life. On the other hand, (72% in Korail and 68% in Shahjadpur) respondents opinion to increase societal support, (68% in Korail and 72% in Shashjadpur) respondents think that need government support. Besides, (80% in Korail and 76% in Shahjadpur) respondents opinion that need to increase no government support to uplift their life. Figure 38, Table 38. Figure c, Figure d.

Figure 38.Opinion of the respondents to uplift the problems