This systematic review addressed the issue of the abuse and neglect of older women (age 60 and over) in rural and remote areas, examining these phenomena’s prevalence, risk and protective factors, consequences, and associated perceptions. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, peer-reviewed articles published until September 2023 were identified in six electronic databases. Out of the manuscripts initially identified ( n = 219), 28 articles met the selection criteria. The study’s quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The included studies provided a comprehensive overview of this phenomenon, encompassing data from 6,579 older rural women. Prevalence rates of abuse and neglect exhibited wide variability, with an average of 27.3%. Among the risk factors, financial dependence and incapacity stood out, while higher income and education levels were protective factors, among others. Emotional/psychological abuse emerged as the most common form, with significant impacts on older women’s physical and mental health. Cultural norms and gender expectations also influenced perceptions of abuse and victims’ coping mechanisms. In a context in which access to specialized resources and services is hampered by significant limitations, community awareness and education prove vital to address this issue, which positions social work as key to addressing these challenges. The prevalence of abuse against older rural women is significant. Emotional abuse stands out as a major issue, underscoring the need for comprehensive interventions accounting for cultural and gender factors.

中文翻译：

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农村和边远地区老年妇女的暴力、虐待和忽视：范围界定审查和患病率荟萃分析


这项系统审查探讨了农村和偏远地区老年妇女（60 岁及以上）遭受虐待和忽视的问题，研究了这些现象的普遍性、风险和保护因素、后果以及相关看法。遵循系统评价和荟萃分析指南的首选报告项目以及 Arksey 和 O'Malley 方法框架，在 6 个电子数据库中确定了截至 2023 年 9 月发表的同行评审文章。在最初确定的手稿中（n = 219），有 28 篇文章符合选择标准。使用混合方法评估工具评估研究的质量。纳入的研究全面概述了这一现象，涵盖了 6,579 名农村老年妇女的数据。虐待和忽视的发生率存在很大差异，平均为 27.3%。在风险因素中，经济依赖和无能力最为突出，而较高的收入和教育水平等是保护性因素。情感/心理虐待成为最常见的形式，对老年妇女的身心健康产生重大影响。文化规范和性别期望也影响对虐待的看法和受害者的应对机制。在获得专业资源和服务受到重大限制的情况下，社区意识和教育对于解决这一问题至关重要，这使得社会工作成为应对这些挑战的关键。农村老年妇女遭受虐待的现象十分普遍。情感虐待是一个重大问题，凸显了考虑文化和性别因素的综合干预措施的必要性。