Disparities in functional dependence and population aging in Latin America
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14965004 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Rosa Estela García Chanes (Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City, Mexico, corresponding author), Brenda Amelia Casasola Espinosa (Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City, Mexico), Luis Miguel Gutierrez Robledo (Instituto Nacional de Geriatría, Mexico City, Mexico), Luis Miguel Gutiérrez‐Robledo (0000-0002-9728-6644, Instituto Nacional de Pediatria) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 49 |
| Pages | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1020-4989 • E-ISSN: 1680-5348 |
| Publisher | Pan American Health Organization (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.26633/rpsp.2025.108 |
| PMID | 41278215 |
| OpenAlex | W4416472199 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 29 |
Objective. To analyze the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics associated with varying levels of functional dependence among older adults, considering the diverse patterns of aging in Latin America. Methods. National surveys between 2018 and 2023 that used the Washington Group scale to measure disability were reviewed. Three levels of functional dependence (moderate, severe, and total) were defined, and sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age, education, living arrangements, and socioeconomic status were analyzed, comparing countries with different stages of aging. The sample comprised adults 60 years and older from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico ( N = 199 663). Results. The results show remarkable variability in the prevalence of functional dependence. Severe dependence is related to advanced age, low socioeconomic status, low education, and certain living arrangements. People with less education and in extended or single-person households tend to show higher levels of dependence. Mobility and cognitive impairment were the most prevalent types of disability, especially in countries with advanced aging. Conclusions. Aging in Latin America is uneven, with educational and socioeconomic status influencing the functional dependence of older adults. Public policies must be tailored to local realities to address health, infrastructure, and care challenges in a comprehensive and equitable manner
Age structure · Latin Americans · Population · Population ageing · Public policy · Socioeconomic status · Aging, Health, and Disability · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
Gender inequality and restrictive gender norms
Population with Long-Term Care Needs in Six Latin American Countries
Gender-Specific Associations between Late-Life Disability and Socioeconomic Status
Interrogating and Reflecting on Disability Prevalence Data Collected Using the Washington Group Tools
Sex and the city
Institutional care in four Latin American countries
Encuesta Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento (Sabe)
Healthy aging determinants and disability among older adults
Toward healthy aging in Latin America and the Caribbean
Disability in instrumental activities of daily living among older adults
Assessment of Older People
Crisis de los cuidados y crisis de la democracia
| Highly cited | No |
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