Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
8-2017
Abstract
This spotlight provides an overview of thesituation of older persons in Myanmar, an under-studied country ofover-50-million population. Myanmar is of particular interest to researchersand policy makers, given its overall level of poverty and modestly rapidpopulation aging. Research on older persons, while increasing in recent years,remains sparse. Empirical evidence indicates that Myanmar older persons are inrelatively poorer health compared to those in neighboring countries. Many livein abject poverty and depend on their families for material support.Coresidence is very common and facilitates reciprocal exchanges acrossgenerations. Looking ahead, Myanmar confronts important challenges includingdemographic shifts that reduce availability of family support for older personsand increasing burden from chronic illnesses. Currently, government measuresare essentially absent, although a law on aging was drafted and is in theprocess to become legislation.
Keywords
Myanmar, population aging, Southeast Asia, Asian older persons, Health and well-being in older ages, Income security, Intergenerational support, Public policy, Demographics of aging
Discipline
Asian Studies | Gerontology | Sociology
Research Areas
Sociology
Publication
Gerontologist
Volume
54
Issue
4
First Page
599
Last Page
605
ISSN
0016-9013
Identifier
10.1093/geront/gnw211
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B - Oxford Open Option D
Embargo Period
7-31-2018
Citation
KNODEL, John, & TEERAWICHITCHAINAN, Bussarawan.(2017). Aging in Myanmar. Gerontologist, 54(4), 599-605.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2038
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw211