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Elder abuse is an emerging global problem that has been identified as an important research agenda for the twenty-first century (United Nations Programme on Aging, 2007). Yet, compared to the USA, Canada, Australia and some European countries, elder abuse remains under-researched in Latin America, Asia, and Africa (Podnieks et al. , 2010). Walsh et al. (2010) criticized the current status of global research on elder abuse for its failure to incorporate diverse samples, relying heavily on quantitative methods, and giving little attention to investigating the lived experiences of older people themselves. While a few cross-national studies have examined elder abuse in Europe, the USA, and Canada (e.g. Buzgová and Ivanová, 2009; Crome et al. , 2014), no such comparisons exist for the African continent. Two volumes which report on elder abuse in different countries each include one African nation - South Africa (Kosberg and Garcia, 1995) and Kenya (Phelan, 2013). The relative inattention to elder abuse in developing countries is out of sync with the growing extent of the problem.
The World Health Organization (2008) predicted that rapid population growth in developing countries coupled with socioeconomic problems is likely to increase the vulnerability of elders to abuse. In the developing world, including Africa, millions of older people suffer from poverty and lack access to basic necessities; 80 percent of elders have no regular income and 100 million people earn less than a dollar a day (Sowers and Rowe, 2007). Increased vulnerability may become widespread, considering that of the two billion older adults projected globally by 2050, over 80 percent will be living in developing countries (United Nations, 2008).
Traditionally in Ethiopia, respect and care for elders has been highly valued. However, due to changing socioeconomic conditions and problems facing the family and community, this tradition is being disrupted (Mba, 2007). Many older adults in Africa are non-literate and live in rural areas where services are non-existent or inadequate (HelpAge International, 2010). These circumstances leave elder adults at risk for various forms of abuse that negatively affect their well-being (Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), 2006).
Elderly persons in Africa are the poorest of the poor and face challenges attributed to economic problems, conflicts, natural disasters, disease, deterioration of family relationships, and negative attitudes toward...