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. 2022 May 11:8:23337214221088700.
doi: 10.1177/23337214221088700. eCollection 2022 Jan-Dec.

Prevalence and Social Risk Factors of Functional Limitations Among Slum-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings From the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Razak M Gyasi  1   2 , Isabella Aboderin  3 , Gershim Asiki  1
Affiliations

Prevalence and Social Risk Factors of Functional Limitations Among Slum-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings From the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System

Razak M Gyasi et al. Gerontol Geriatr Med. .

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we investigate the patterns and the risk factors of functional limitations in a sample of 1323 slum-dwelling older adults in Kenya who participated in the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems. Methods: We conducted crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses to evaluate the associations. Results: The prevalence of activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) limitations were approximately 5% and 8%, respectively; some 4.5% reported both limitations. Estimates varied significantly between sexes and age (p < .001). After adjustments, age, female, and Garre ethnic group were associated with ADL and IADL limitations. ADL decline was determined by co-residence (aOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.34-0.95), household size (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04-1.37) and educational level (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.05-0.72). Conclusions: Older slum-dwellers in Nairobi experience functional impairments with marked age and sex differences. These findings may encourage salient policy planning and public health interventions to promote healthy aging in informal settlements.

Keywords: functional impairments; informal settlements; intergenerational care; long-term care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of activities of daily living limitations and indicators by age and gender.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Distribution of instrumental activities of daily living limitations and indicators by age and gender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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