Uncovering the Impact of Disasters on the Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults: Insights from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Uncovering the Impact of Disasters on the Health and Wellbeing of Older Adults: Insights from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India

Published:2023-11-14 Issue: Volume: Page:
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Author:

Prasad Jitender¹^ORCID,Rajak Rahul²^ORCID,Sekher T. V.³,Nagargoje Varsha P.³^ORCID,Nirbhav ⁴

Affiliation:

1. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

2. Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

3. International Institute for Population Sciences

4. Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Abstract

Abstract This study analyzes the impact of disasters on the health of older adults in India, using data from LASI Wave-1 (2017-18) with 2,487 participants. Descriptive and multivariate analyses examined the link between health outcomes and disasters in older adults. The research reveals that drought, floods, and earthquakes are prevalent disaster, while traffic accidents and building collapses are significant man-made disasters. Older adults exposed to disasters caused by natural hazards experienced higher rates of psychological trauma, chronic illness, and physical disabilities. Man-made disasters were associated with increased risk of physical disability and chronic illness. Disasters were strongly linked to psychological trauma. This study emphasizes the importance of disaster preparedness and response strategies tailored to the needs of older adults. It calls for policies to improve healthcare access, social support, and disaster resilience, particularly in rural areas. Conducted through personal interviews, this research offers valuable insights for shaping policy and disaster management.

Publisher

Research Square Platform LLC

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