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; Isabella Aboderin; Gershim Asiki

doi:10.1177/23337214221088700

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

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

Authors

Razak M Gyasi^{1

2}, Isabella Aboderin³, Gershim Asiki¹

Affiliations

¹ African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya.
² Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
³ Africa Research and Partnerships, Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC), School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

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.