CPD-UNFPA
Programme on Population and Sustainable
Development
Paper 15 (Summary)
Social Aspects Of
Aging In Bangladesh:
A Case Study of Rajshahi City
A K M Shafiul Islam
INTRODUCTION
Various
estimates and projections affirm
a phenomenal increase in the number
of 60+ people in Bangladesh in the
near future. The process of population
aging is mainly attributed to rapid
fertility reduction and rapid levelling
off of mortality in the past few decades.
This has brought about changes in
the social structure and is going
to affect it substantially in the
coming decades. Various factors
have affected the nature and status
of the structure, which include
the growth of population, demographic
patterns, changes in the composition
of the labour force, partial industrialisation,
migration from rural to urban areas,
changes in the pattern of family
life and the progress of medical
and social sciences leading to a
better understanding of physical,
psychological and social life of
society. Therefore, in the near
future, this elderly group will exert a tremendous pressure on our
poor economy and limited available
resources. To take necessary and
appropriate measures for tackling
the problems faced by this marginal
group of society in the future,
research was undertaken by CPD
on the theme titled "Social
Aspect of Aging in Bangladesh: A
Case Study of Rajshahi City".
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the study
were to
• outline the general socio-economic
condition of the aged
• explore the health conditions
of the elderly
• understand the role and status
of the elderly within the family
METHODOLOGY
The
study was mainly based on a survey
and participant-observation. The
data was collected through an in-depth
inquiry of 678 elderly respondents
from 20 out of 40 wards in the Rajshahi
City Corporation. Collected data
was compiled and analysed to arrive
at the study conclusion.
FINDINGS
Demographic
and Socio-Economic Characteristics
of The Elderly
The study demonstrated the expected
pattern of age group distribution
i.e. the highest concentration of
'young-old' (60-69 years) and the
lowest concentration of the 'old-old
(80+ years) people in the society.
The study found a large number of
widows among the respondents,
outnumbering the widowers. An age
difference of 5 or more years between
the male and female spouses at the
time of marriage, where the male
spouse is generally older than the
female, was cited to be the main
reason behind the widows forming
the majority compared to the widowers.
The literacy rate revealed that
17.85% of the men and 23.30% of
the women were illiterate. 52.7
percent of male respondents and
most of the female elderly were
financially dependent, mainly on
their sons. Only 28.9% of
the respondents were working. Among
them, 34.8% of males and 11.6% of females in the '60-64' age group
were engaged in economic work. According
to the study 33.6% of the
male and 2.7% of the female
respondents were found to be the
head of the family as they strongly
participated in the decision-making
processes of the family. Besides,
they were still income earners and
were of good health. 17.8% of the elderly respondents were
nominal heads of the family, able to take a partial role
in decision-making, mainly on marriage,
selling of property etc. and most
of them were appeared
as a matter of convention. The degree
of involvement in the decision-making
process, related to financial and
other important activities of the
family, is one of the best indicators
to acknowledge the status of the
elderly in the family. The study
indicated that 48.9% of male respondents and only 6.6% of female respondents dealt
with such decisions in their family.
Health Condition of the Elderly
Self-assessed health status is an
important indicator of the quality
of life in the old age. The study
found 20% of the respondents
reported their health status to
be good whereas 51.8% as
fair which indicates that the elderly
are so engrossed with other
existential problems of the households
that the question of personal health
did not seem to find a place in
their mind. Many elderly were found
to be suffering from illness at
the time of the survey. The major
ailments from which the respondents
stated to have suffered include: i) weakness and reeling of the head
ii) rheumatism and pains in the
waist and joints, iii) digestive
problems iv) high blood pressure.
A significant number of the respondents
had illnesses of a duration of more than ten years. A significant number
of the elderly were found to be
suffering from high blood pressure,
heart diseases, joint pain, asthma,
diabetes, dental problems, and digestive
problems for more than 10 years.
Many
infirm elderly find it difficult
to manage basic activities
such as walking outside, taking
baths, washing or wearing cloths,
getting to and up from bed and so
on. The study also indicated that
only the disabled and infirm elderly
seek daily care. The survey revealed
that 55.9% of the respondents
feel the need for daily care. Another
notable finding is that the portion
of male respondents feeling the
need for daily care is far more
than the female respondents which
strengthens the traditional argument
that in a patriarchic society such
as Bangladesh men are habituated
to receiving personal services throughout
the life. The study showed a gender
wise distinction in the type of
person who provides nursing to the
elderly. While the majority of the aged
men under the survey were dependent upon their wives during
illness, a significant number of the
female respondents mentioned of
their dependence upon their
offspring
for support and care during illness.
Family Role and Social Relationship
Generally,
the social relationship to the aged
is an important factor for their
living in the family. The later
part of the life of the elderly
in the family depends upon their
adjustment with family members.
Age, retirement and any other such
factors as well as income and health
were found to affect social
behaviour. The elderly were found
to be dropped out of formal
social activities whereas their
informal relationships with friends,
neighbours, and family members were
found to remain stable or increased
slightly. A significantly high proportion
of the elderly in the study were
from joint families (68.3%), compared
to nuclear families (31.7%). A large
number of elderly in the joint families
suffered from psychological, financial
and emotional hardship and lack
of respect from the members of the
family. The adjustment pattern of
the elderly with other younger members
in their family depends largely
upon the norms, values and existing
practices in the society. The study
reflected that the majority of the financially
solvent elderly had cordial relationships
with their family members. 86.1%
of the male respondents noticed
that there was no significant change
in the behaviour of their wives
before and after the age of sixty.
According to almost all the respondents,
their wives were as cordial as before.
The relationships of only 9.5% of respondents
with their wives were not too good
and 4.4% were poor. 61.1% of the
respondents were on good terms with
their sons and 68.3% with
their daughters. According to 41.2% of the respondents they
were on good terms with their daughters
in law and 17.8% of them felt this
relation was not very satisfactory.
24.9% of the elderly remained silent,
which clearly indicated a severely
strained relation among them. 45%
of the respondents cordially cited
good relations with grand children
and other family members.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
·
A positive plan should be prepared
for the scientific management of
the elderly population so that people
could spend their latter life with
self-respect and dignity. The vision
of society thinking of the elderly
as an economic burden and less adjustable
with the family should be changed.
·
There is an urgent need to educate
parents, particularly of lower
economic groups, about the importance
of small families for having enough
living space and getting adequate
care in the old age.
·
There should be some development
programs to generate income for
the elderly, especially for the
widows to reduce their financial
dependency on the family members.
·
Aged people should be encouraged
to undergo regular checkups which can help
them to maintain their physical fitness.
Health policy should be modified
to include regular checkups, providing
treatments and medications for the
aged population at affordable cost
(or free of cost).
To
obtain the full text of this report
please contact:
Centre for Policy Dialogue
Dialogue
and Communication Division
House No 40/C, Road No 11,
Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
yes">
GPO Box 2129, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: (+880 2) 8124770,9141734,9141703; Fax: (+880 2) 8130951
E-mail: cpd@bdonline.com
Price: Tk. 35.00 (The price quoted
does not include postal charges)
Pages: 29
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