%0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2017 %T Physical Function in an Aging Population in Rural South Africa: Findings From HAALSI and Cross-National Comparisons With HRS Sister Studies %A Payne, Collin F %A Gómez-Olivé, Francesc Xavier %A Kahn, Kathleen %A Berkman, Lisa %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aging %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Exercise Test %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Status Disparities %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Quality of Life %K Regression Analysis %K Rural Population %K Self Report %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic Factors %K South Africa %X Objectives: We use recently-collected data from the Health and Aging in Africa: a Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI) cohort from Agincourt, South Africa, to describe physical functioning in this aging population, and place the overall level and age-trajectories of physical health in the context of other Health and Retirement Study (HRS) sister studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Method: We conduct multiple regression to estimate associations of physical functioning assessed from both self-report (activities of daily living [ADL] limitation, self-reported health) and performance (grip strength, gait speed) with socio-demographic and health characteristics in HAALSI, and use fully-interacted regression models to compare age-patterns of physical functioning outcomes cross-nationally. Results: Gender differences in self-reported health are minimal, and men had 30% higher odds of being ADL limited controlling for socio-demographic and health characteristics. Measured physical performance is closely tied with socioeconomic conditions, but self-reported measures have a much smaller or weaker socioeconomic gradient. In international age-adjusted comparisons, the HAALSI sample had lower physical performance outcomes than most comparison populations. Discussion: As the first HRS sister study undertaken in Africa, HAALSI adds vital information on population aging and health in the region. Continuing waves of HAALSI data will be a key resource for understanding differences in the complex processes of disability across LMIC contexts. %B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 72 %P 665-679 %8 2017 Jul 01 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28369527?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/geronb/gbx030