Aging in Poverty in Low-Income Countries: A Focus on Haiti

James Lachaud, Ohio State University
Ruth Climat, Partners of the Americas
Bogentson André, Université d’État d’Haïti
Marilise Rouzier, Faculté de Médicine, Université d’État d’Haïti
Nixon Calixte, Université d’État d’Haïti
Roger Jean-Charles, Faculté de Médicine, Université d’État d’Haïti

This study investigates the challenges of aging in poverty in Haiti, where older adults face significant health, economic, and environmental issues exacerbated by systemic factors like limited healthcare access, food and water insecurity, and the absence of social support networks. Utilizing data from a national survey conducted in 2024, which included 1,408 older adults, we used logit regression to estimate associations between health-, poverty- and environmental-related outcomes and sociodemographic characteristics. The research highlights that over one-third of the study participants rated their health as poor, and many reported chronic conditions, including hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, a majority of participants experienced food insecurity, while a notable percentage reported high stress levels. The findings reveal that older women are particularly vulnerable, facing worse health outcomes compared to men, while those in rural areas are more likely to experience food insecurity. The study underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and enhance social support systems for the aging population in Haiti.

Keywords: Population Ageing, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population Policies

See extended abstract.