Diversity in the Factors Associated with ADL-Related Disability among Older People in Six Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-Country Comparison

Septi Kurnia Lestari, Nawi Ng, Paul Kowal and Ailiana Santosa
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Septi Kurnia Lestari: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
Nawi Ng: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
Paul Kowal: Research Institute for Health Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Ailiana Santosa: Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: The low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing rapid population ageing, yet knowledge about disability among older populations in these countries is scarce. This study aims to identify the prevalence and factors associated with disability among people aged 50 years and over in six LMICs. Cross-sectional data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health Wave 1 (2007–2010) in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa was used. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were undertaken to examine the association between sociodemographic factors, health behaviours, chronic conditions, and activities of daily living (ADL) disability. The prevalence of disability among older adults ranged from 16.2% in China to 55.7% in India. Older age, multimorbidity, and depression were the most common factors related to disability in all six countries. Gender was significant in China (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.01–1.29), Ghana (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01–1.48) and India (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.37–1.99). Having no access to social capital was significantly associated with ADL disability in China (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.54–4.31) and South Africa (OR = 4.11, 95% CI: 1.79–9.43). Prevalence data is valuable in these six ageing countries, with important evidence on mitigating factors for each. Identifying determinants associated with ADL disability among older people in LMICs can inform how to best implement health prevention programmes considering different country-specific factors.

Keywords: older adults; physical function; disability; ADL; WHO SAGE; LMICs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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