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Unmet Needs for Support in Activities of Daily Living among Older Adults in South-Western Nigeria: Do family and household structures matter?

Jacob W. Mobolaji, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Akanni I. Akinyemi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Lukman Solanke, Obafemi Awolowo University

Access to support from social networks is key to achieving wellbeing in later life. However, the prevalent social and economic challenges have impacted the availability and ability of the social networks, especially family to provide support. This study investigates the influence of family and household structures on unmet need for support in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among older adults in Southwestern Nigeria. The study utilized primary data collected from 827 older adults aged 65+ selected in Oyo State, Nigeria using multi-stage sampling design. Associations were examined using binary logistic regression at multivariable analysis. From the result, a larger proportion (35%) of the older adults reported unmet needs for support in Instrumental ADL compared to Basic ADL (20%) with no significant gender variations. The unadjusted odds ratio of the regression result indicated that lower odds of unmet need was associated with having 5 or more family size (OR=0.65, p<0.05, 95% C.I.=0.44-0.97) and living with immediate family (OR=0.64, p<0.05, 95% C.I.=0.46-0.90), while higher odds was associated with having children with high socioeconomic status (OR=1.47, p<0.05, 95% C.I.=1.00-2.16). However, adjusting for the socio-demographics, they all lost significance. The study suggests intervention towards providing enabling environment for families to support the elderly.

Keywords: Older adults, Intergenerational relations, Population ageing, Health and morbidity

See extended abstract.

  Presented in Session P12.