IGEE Proceedings

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Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Socioeconomic Determinants of Social Isolation Among Ghanaian Older Adults (2019–2024): Patrick Atanga Azoya, Sarah Soyeon Oh; Received January 19, 2026 Accepted February 6, 2026 Published online February 23, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.69841/igee.2026.001 [Epub ahead of print]

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Background
Older adults in Ghana who experience socioeconomic disadvantage characterized by limited in-come, low educational attainment, inadequate housing, insecure or absent employment face obstacles to main-taining social connections, increasing their vulnerability to isolation and adverse health outcomes. Prolonged loneliness has been likened to the health impact of smoking 15 cigarettes per day (Shafiq et al., 2020). This review and meta-analysis examined cross-sectional studies showing differing relationships between social isola-tion/loneliness and low socioeconomic status (SES) among Ghanaian older adults. The objective was to synthesize quantitative evidence on associations between socioeconomic factors and social isolation or loneliness among older adult populations in Ghana. Methods: We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and African Journals Online (AJOL) for peer-reviewed English-language studies published from 1 January 2019 to December 2024. Eligible studies were quantitative, included Ghanaian older adults, reported associations between social isolation or loneliness and at least one socioeconomic factor, and provided extractable effect measures (OR/PR or raw counts). Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts. Data extracted covered study characteristics, exposures, outcomes, and adjusted effect estimates. We pooled odds ratios using random-effects meta-analysis (DerSi-monian–Laird) in R (meta/metafor); heterogeneity was quantified with I². Risk-of-bias visualizations were produced with robvis.
Results
Ten cross-sectional Ghanaian studies met inclusion criteria. All indicated that lower SES was associated with elevated odds of social isolation or loneliness (individual ORs 1.60–2.30). The pooled OR was 1.90 (95% CI: 1.69–2.14), indicating approximately a 90% higher likelihood of social isolation or loneliness among soci-oeconomically disadvantaged older adults. The findings suggest that aside cultural enablers, rural-urban migration effects are more severe in low-SES groups, potentially explaining the heightened ORs com-pared to global estimates.
Conclusion
Socioeconomic disadvantage is a substantial correlate of social isolation and loneliness among Ghanaian older adults. Interventions and policies addressing poverty, food insecurity, and broader socio-cultural determinants are needed to support social connectedness and healthy aging.; Summary

Bridging the Cognitive Digital Divide: A Prototype-Based Interven-tion for Elderly Learners in South Korea†: Yeeun Kim, Haeyoon Shin, Soo Yeon Kim; IGEE Proc. 2025;2(2):103-113. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.69841/igee.2025.017

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The acceleration of digital transformation across public and private sectors has exacerbated disparities in digital literacy, particularly among older adults who face cognitive, sensory, and technological barriers to effective engagement. In South Korea—despite widespread smartphone ownership among the elderly—digital proficiency remains disproportionately low, underscoring the inadequacy of current accessibility-focused interventions and the pressing need for cognitively and perceptually attuned digital education frameworks. This study examines the effectiveness of Ee Eum, a prototype digital literacy intervention specifically designed for adults aged 65 and older, integrating user-centered interface design principles with tiered educational scaffolding. A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. Initial qualitative inquiry through focus group and individual interviews (n = 30) identified key usability obstacles and content needs. This was followed by a series of controlled usability experiments (n = 31), including A/B testing of visual variables (e.g., contrast ratio, font size) and First Click Tests to evaluate interface navigability and perceptual clarity. Results demonstrated that high-contrast color combinations (e.g., yellow text on blue backgrounds) and enlarged text sizes (25–28pt) significantly improved legibility and reduced cognitive load. The inclusion of visual affordances in user interface elements led to substantial gains in navigational accuracy, with First Click Test performance increasing from 39.79% to 86.02% when target areas were visually emphasized. These findings provide empirical support for the role of perceptually optimized interface design in enhancing digital accessibility for older adults. The Ee Eum prototype offers a replicable framework for inclusive UI/UX development and contributes to ongoing discourse in gerontechnology, digital equity, and human-centered aging policy.; Summary

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