AUTHOR=Banda Andrew , Hoffman Jaco , Roos Vera 

TITLE=Individual and Community-Contextual Level Factors Associated With Wellbeing Among Older Adults in Rural Zambia

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 69 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1606571

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2024.1606571

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objective: This article aims to identify individual and community-contextual level factors associated with the well-being of older adults (50 years and older) in rural Zambia.  
Methods: Data from the nationally representative 2015 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS) were used. Using multilevel mixed effects, the individual and contextual factors on well-being were determined.
Results: Overall, 31.7% of older adults in rural Zambia perceived their well-being as good. Both individual and community contextual-level factors are associated with the well-being of older adults in rural communities. At the individual level, well-being was associated with higher education attainment (AOR= 2.075, 95% CI: 0.58,2.73). Contextual factors significantly associated with well-being included improved housing (AOR= 1.281, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.46), access to piped tap water within the premises (AOR= 2.720, 95% CI: 1.56,4.76), having own charcoal (AOR= 1.376, 95% CI: 1.14,1.67) or having income to purchase firewood (AOR= 3.346, 95% CI: 2.54,4.43). Conclusion: The results provide foresight and a basis for planning in devising policies and programmes ensuring that older people thrive and that no one is left behind regardless of settings.