Functional dependence in later life: a cross-sectional study in a village of Bangladesh

Background: Functional dependence is a major concern in ageing populations, yet evidence from rural Bangladesh is limited. This study aimed to examine functional dependence in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) among rural older adults in Bangladesh. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a village of Mymensingh District, Bangladesh. Of 118 older adults selected through simple random sampling, 112 were analysed. Interviews used a semi-structured questionnaire, with BADL and IADL items adapted from the Katz and Lawton-Brody scales. Multiple linear regression examined the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on functional dependency. Results: Findings reveal that while 76.8% of older people remain independent in BADL, only 29.5% were independent in IADL, indicating higher dependency on instrumental activities of daily living. The regression analysis indicated a moderate correlation (R=0.535) between sociodemographic variables and BADL dependence, accounting for 28.6% of the variation in functional dependency, with age and occupation as statistically significant predictors of BADL dependence. In contrast, a more substantial relationship is observed between sociodemographic characteristics and IADL dependence (R=0.787, R2=0.620), suggesting that 62% of the variation in IADL dependency can be explained by such factors as age, sex, occupation, and health status. Conclusions: The findings support a critical perspective on the disengagement theory of ageing, suggesting that disengagement is not a linear process driven solely by age. Given the influence of age, sex, occupation, and health conditions on everyday functioning, specific interventions should support older people.