Determinants of Living Arrangements of Older Persons in Rural Areas of Kasulu District in Tanzania
Date
2023-06Author
Mdendemi, Tiberio R.
Mpeta, Innocent F.
Mkelenga, Amani J.
Macha, Laura
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The study was conducted in Kasulu District Council to assess the determinants of the living
arrangements of older persons in rural areas of Tanzania. A multistage sampling technique
was applied to obtain 379 older persons to whom a questionnaire was administered for data
collection. Data analysis was done using the likelihood chi-square ratio test and multinomial
logistic regression using IBM SPSS statistics and STATA. It was found that 38% of older
persons lived with a spouse and children while only 14% lived alone. Household size was a
strong predictor of all types of living arrangements for older persons implying that the
addition of one person to the household of an older person would increase the possibility of
an older person living with a spouse and children relative to living alone. The marital status
of the relative with whom the older person would prefer to live with was also a strong
predictor. Also, it was found that older persons who had sources of income-generation were
more likely to live with their relatives than those who had no sources of personal income. An
older person with no education or low education was more likely to live with a relative
compared to an educated one, and the effects were statistically significant for all categories
of living arrangements. Furthermore, it was also found that a never-married older person
had a reduced chance of living with a spouse. It is recommended that the current elderly
and aging policy which puts more emphasis on family care for elderly members should be
revised.