Living arrangements of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa in a time of HIV/AIDS

Update Item Information
Publication Type Journal Article
School or College College of Social & Behavioral Science
Department Sociology
Creator Zimmer, Zachary
Other Author Dayton, Julia
Title Living arrangements of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa in a time of HIV/AIDS
Date 2003
Description The detrimental consequences of the AIDS epidemic for older adults in sub-Saharan Africa suggest the need to investigate their characteristics, living situations, and well-being. In this study, we examine the living arrangements of persons aged 60 and older in 16 countries. Data come from the household roster component of recent Demographic and Health Surveys. The focus is on the tendency of the elderly to live with children and grandchildren, and we examine distributions and determinants. Results show that older adults in sub-Saharan Africa live in a variety of household arrangements. Men are more likely to be living in a nuclear household, while women are more likely to be living in extended families. Regressions show that determinants of living with children and grandchildren differ by sex. Taking advantage of survey items on the survival and whereabouts of parents of children, we also examine whether older adults living with grandchildren are involved in fostering or orphaning situations. Those living in countries characterized by high levels of AIDS-related mortality are more likely to be living with grandchildren, with grandchildren but no children in the household, and with orphaned grandchildren. The percent living with one or more double-orphaned grandchildren is strongly associated with AIDS-related mortality, suggesting that the epidemic may be having adverse influences on the living situations of older adults. Knowing about the types of households in which older people live is a first step to understanding their needs in a part of the world with limited resources.
Type Text
Publisher Population Council
Issue 169
First Page 1
Last Page 38
Subject Living arrangements; Older adults; Sub-Saharan Africa; HIV/AIDS
Subject LCSH AIDS (Disease) in old age -- Africa, Sub-Saharan; Households -- Africa, Sub-Saharan; Older people -- Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Social conditions
Language eng
Bibliographic Citation Zimmer, Z., & Dayton, J. (2003). Living arrangements of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa in a time of HIV/AIDS. Policy Research Division Working Papers Series, No. 169, 1-38.
Rights Management (c)Population Council
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 966,389 bytes
Identifier ir-main,10199
ARK ark:/87278/s66m3r18
Setname ir_uspace
ID 703587
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66m3r18