EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE NATURE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST ELDERLY IN DISTRICT GUJRAT, PAKISTAN

The current qualitative study explored the nature of elder abuse in District Gujrat. The study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of elderly as well as the type of elder abuse. Purposive sampling was used to approach 13 respondents (elderly males and females). Their age was 60 and above. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to collect the data. An interview guide was used for semi-structured interview which was prepared after literature review and theories of violence. Thematic analysis was done through all transcribed data of interviews. Major themes emerged psychological abuse and financial abuse. However, presence of neglect and physical abuse has also been found. The findings showed that most of the respondents who had faced one type of abuse had faced other form of abuse too. Findings are the contributing source in community awareness programs.