Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023

Introduction: Little is known about trends in the incidence of dependent adult abuse (DAA). Objectives: To determine the annual incidence of DAA in Iowa from 1984 to 2023. Trends in abuse rates were evaluated for their associations with calendar year, number of caseworkers and abuse laws, political...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeanette M. Daly, John W. Ely, Gerald J. Jogerst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241293320
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850207983325151232
author Jeanette M. Daly
John W. Ely
Gerald J. Jogerst
author_facet Jeanette M. Daly
John W. Ely
Gerald J. Jogerst
author_sort Jeanette M. Daly
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Little is known about trends in the incidence of dependent adult abuse (DAA). Objectives: To determine the annual incidence of DAA in Iowa from 1984 to 2023. Trends in abuse rates were evaluated for their associations with calendar year, number of caseworkers and abuse laws, political party, and unemployment. Methods: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services DAA reports, investigations, and substantiations were analyzed. Report data were available for 10 years. Investigation and substantiation data were available for 40 years. Long-term trends over time were described and associations between abuse rates and number of caseworkers and abuse laws, political party, and unemployment were explored. Results: Both investigations and substantiations increased from 50 to 182 per 100 000 adults and 17 to 38 per 100 000 adults between 1984 and 2023, respectively. Increasing calendar year and Democratic party majority in the Iowa legislature were positively and independently associated with investigated and substantiated abuse rates. An inverse correlation between the proportion of reports that were investigated and the proportion of investigations that were substantiated (Spearman’s rho = −.81; P  < .01) was found. Conclusions: During the 40-year study period, investigated and substantiated cases of DAA in Iowa have been steadily increasing.
format Article
id doaj-art-c8c3399f877746d994c8f1dcee886ab7
institution OA Journals
issn 2150-1327
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
spelling doaj-art-c8c3399f877746d994c8f1dcee886ab72025-08-20T02:10:20ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13272024-10-011510.1177/21501319241293320Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023Jeanette M. Daly0John W. Ely1Gerald J. Jogerst2The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAThe University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAThe University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAIntroduction: Little is known about trends in the incidence of dependent adult abuse (DAA). Objectives: To determine the annual incidence of DAA in Iowa from 1984 to 2023. Trends in abuse rates were evaluated for their associations with calendar year, number of caseworkers and abuse laws, political party, and unemployment. Methods: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services DAA reports, investigations, and substantiations were analyzed. Report data were available for 10 years. Investigation and substantiation data were available for 40 years. Long-term trends over time were described and associations between abuse rates and number of caseworkers and abuse laws, political party, and unemployment were explored. Results: Both investigations and substantiations increased from 50 to 182 per 100 000 adults and 17 to 38 per 100 000 adults between 1984 and 2023, respectively. Increasing calendar year and Democratic party majority in the Iowa legislature were positively and independently associated with investigated and substantiated abuse rates. An inverse correlation between the proportion of reports that were investigated and the proportion of investigations that were substantiated (Spearman’s rho = −.81; P  < .01) was found. Conclusions: During the 40-year study period, investigated and substantiated cases of DAA in Iowa have been steadily increasing.https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241293320
spellingShingle Jeanette M. Daly
John W. Ely
Gerald J. Jogerst
Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
title Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
title_full Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
title_fullStr Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
title_full_unstemmed Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
title_short Dependent Adult Abuse Trends in Iowa, 1984 to 2023
title_sort dependent adult abuse trends in iowa 1984 to 2023
url https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241293320
work_keys_str_mv AT jeanettemdaly dependentadultabusetrendsiniowa1984to2023
AT johnwely dependentadultabusetrendsiniowa1984to2023
AT geraldjjogerst dependentadultabusetrendsiniowa1984to2023