Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can significantly impact on health and wellbeing of older adults, especially those living in developing countries like India. Using data from LASI Wave-1 (2017-2018) with a sample of 73,396 individuals aged 45 years-and-above, this study investigates the effects of disasters on older adults’ health and wellbeing in India. The survey captured information on natural disasters (n=1,661) and man-made disasters (n=826) that affected older adults’ health in the past five years. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess the association between disasters and health outcomes among older adults. Findings revealed that drought (42%) was the most prevalent natural disaster faced by Indians, followed by flood (24%) and cyclone (21%), while traffic accidents (65%) and building collapses (12%) were the leading man-made disasters. Older adults who experienced disasters reported higher levels of mental health problems (67%), physical disabilities (10%), functional limitations in activities of daily living (24%) and instrumental activities of daily living (48%), and lower levels of life satisfaction (33%). Additionally, older adults in rural areas (85%) were more vulnerable to the adverse effects of disasters compared to those in urban areas, likely due to limited healthcare access and infrastructure challenges. Gender disparities were also observed, with older women (55%) being more adversely affected by natural disasters, while older men (53%) were mostly affected by man-made disasters. Study underscores the need for disaster preparedness and response strategies considering needs of older adults in India. Policies for better healthcare access, social support, and disaster resilience are vital for older adults, especially in rural areas. This study, for the first time using nationally representative data, provides important evidences for informing policy and practice in disaster management and health promotion efforts.
Jitender Prasad Varsha Nagargoje Rahul Rajak TV Sekher
International Institute for Population Sciences , Mumbai
ID Abstract: 721