Risk Factors and Health Status Predictors of Older Persons During COVID-19 in Selected Slums of Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State
Abstract
Investigating risk factors and health status predictors of older persons during COVID-19 is critical for understanding and responding to future sudden pandemics. The aim is to understand the socio-demographic characteristics influencing the vulnerability of older individuals to COVID-19 in selected slums, analyze the associated responses, and identify risk factors and health status predictors exacerbating their susceptibility during the sudden pandemic. Through a comprehensive assessment of existing health challenges, comorbidities, coping strategies, and environmental conditions, the research elucidates the multifaceted nature of COVID-19 on older persons in slums. A survey research design was employed, which involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. One hundred thirty older persons aged 60 years and above were extracted from 754 household heads engaged in a larger survey. Findings reveal that the calculated p-value (<0.01) is less than the given significance level (α=0.05). This suggests that health status predictors such as aging, poor health, inadequate environmental conditions, societal neglect, poor government intervention, low income, poverty, and lockdown measures significantly contributed to the adverse effects experienced by older persons during COVID-19 in the selected slums. Despite these challenges, older persons exhibited resilience and employed various coping mechanisms to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, including addressing boredom, ill health, social isolation, hunger, and information gaps. The study underscores the importance of government and social support in enabling older persons in slums to withstand adverse social and economic conditions, such as pandemics. By bridging the gap between current realities and desired outcomes, this research informs interventions to promote health equity, urban renewal, and regeneration efforts for older persons in slum environments.
