Challenges and Assets of Older Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa: Perspectives of Gerontology Scholars

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Margaret E. Adamek ◽  
Messay Gebremariam Kotecho ◽  
Samson Chane ◽  
Getachew Gebeyaw
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Electrocardiographic Reference Values for a Population of Older Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Dewhurst ◽  
Luigi Y. Di Marco ◽  
Felicity Dewhurst ◽  
Philip C. Adams ◽  
Alan Murray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Reference Values ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Mapping physical access to healthcare for older adults in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional analysis with implications for the COVID-19 response

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Geldsetzer ◽  
Marcel Reinmuth ◽  
Paul O Ouma ◽  
Sven Lautenbach ◽  
Emelda A Okiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Travel Time ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Travel Times ◽  
Healthcare Resources ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Physical Access

Background: SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is rapidly spreading across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Hospital-based care for COVID-19 is particularly often needed among older adults. However, a key barrier to accessing hospital care in SSA is travel time. To inform the geographic targeting of additional healthcare resources, this study aimed to determine the estimated travel time at a 1km x 1km resolution to the nearest hospital and to the nearest healthcare facility of any type for adults aged 60 years and older in SSA. Methods: We assembled a unique dataset on healthcare facilities' geolocation, separately for hospitals and any type of healthcare facility (including primary care facilities) and including both private- and public-sector facilities, using data from the OpenStreetMap project and the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Programme. Population data at a 1km x 1km resolution was obtained from WorldPop. We estimated travel time to the nearest healthcare facility for each 1km x 1km raster using a cost-distance algorithm. Findings: 9.6% (95% CI: 5.2% - 16.9%) of adults aged 60 and older years had an estimated travel time to the nearest hospital of longer than six hours, varying from 0.0% (95% CI: 0.0% - 3.7%) in Burundi and The Gambia, to 40.9% (95% CI: 31.8% - 50.7%) in Sudan. 11.2% (95% CI: 6.4% - 18.9%) of adults aged 60 years and older had an estimated travel time to the nearest healthcare facility of any type (whether primary or secondary/tertiary care) of longer than three hours, with a range of 0.1% (95% CI: 0.0% - 3.8%) in Burundi to 55.5% (95% CI: 52.8% - 64.9%) in Sudan. Most countries in SSA contained populated areas in which adults aged 60 years and older had a travel time to the nearest hospital of more than 12 hours and to the nearest healthcare facility of any type of more than six hours. The median travel time to the nearest hospital for the fifth of adults aged 60 and older years with the longest travel times was 348 minutes (IQR: 240 - 576 minutes) for the entire SSA population, ranging from 41 minutes (IQR: 34 - 54 minutes) in Burundi to 1,655 minutes (IQR: 1065 - 2440 minutes) in Gabon. Interpretation: Our high-resolution maps of estimated travel times to both hospitals and healthcare facilities of any type can be used by policymakers and non-governmental organizations to help target additional healthcare resources, such as new make-shift hospitals or transport programs to existing healthcare facilities, to older adults with the least physical access to care. In addition, this analysis shows precisely where population groups are located that are particularly likely to under-report COVID-19 symptoms because of low physical access to healthcare facilities. Beyond the COVID-19 response, this study can inform countries' efforts to improve care for conditions that are common among older adults, such as chronic non-communicable diseases.

scholarly journals Predictors of three-month mortality among hospitalized older adults in Togo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fifonsi Adjidossi GBEASOR-KOMLANVI ◽  
Martin Kouame TCHANKONI ◽  
Akila Wimima BAKOUBAYI ◽  
Matthieu Yaovi LOKOSSOU ◽  
Arnold SADIO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
All Cause Mortality ◽  
Hospitalized Older Adults ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background: Assessing hospital mortality and its predictors is important as some of these can be prevented through appropriate interventions. Few studies have reported hospital mortality data among older adults in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the mortality and associated factors among hospitalized older adults in Togo.Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study from February 2018 to September 2019 among patients ≥50 years admitted in medical and surgical services of six hospitals in Togo. Data were recorded during hospitalization and through telephone follow-up survey within 90 days after admission. The main outcome was all-cause mortality at 3 months. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of mortality.Results: The median age of the 650 older adults included in the study period was 61 years, IQR: [55-70] and at least one comorbidity was identified in 59.7% of them. The all-cause mortality rate of 17.2% (95%CI: 14.4-20.4) and the majority of death (93.7%) occurred in hospital. Overall survival rate was 85.5% and 82.8% after 30 and 90 days of follow-up, respectively. Factors associated with 3-month mortality were the hospital level in the health pyramid, hospitalization service, length of stay, functional impairment, depression and malignant diseases.Conclusion: Togolese health system needs to adjust its response to an aging population in order to provide the most effective care.

Features of Rural Communities in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa That Influence Well-Being of Older Persons

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 420-421
Author(s):  
Andrew Banda ◽  
Norah Keating ◽  
Jaco Hoffman ◽  
Jose Parodi ◽  
Nereide Curreri
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Older People ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract In their recent volume, Critical Rural Gerontology, Skinner et al (2021) challenge us to set aside unidimensional notions of rural communities as bypassed vs very supportive; and to identify the elements of rurality that empower or exclude older people and how these differ across cultures and settings. Covid-19 has highlighted the need for safe and inclusive communities. Given that LMIC will be home to the majority of older adults (Gonzales et al. 2015), we undertook a scoping review of features of rural communities that influence wellbeing of older people in countries across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. The review included literature in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, using search engines MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, PsycInfo, SocINDEX, SciELO, AJOL (Africa Journals Online), LILACS, Redalyc, LatinIndex and Clacso. Findings illustrate diversity in how community features including remoteness, infrastructure and belonging influence material, social and subjective wellbeing of older residents.

Cardiovascular health and near visual impairment among older adults in the Republic of Congo: a population-based study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Gbessemehlan ◽  
Catherine Helmer ◽  
Cécile Delcourt ◽  
Farid Boumediene ◽  
Bébène Ndamba-Bandzouzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Background Visual impairment (VI) and determinants of poor cardiovascular health are very common in sub-Saharan Africa. However, we do not know whether these determinants are associated to VI among older adults in this region. This study aimed at investigating the association between the determinants of poor cardiovascular health and near VI among older adults living in Congo. Methods Participants were Congolese older adults aged ≥ 65 years included in EPIDEMCA-FU (Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa - Follow-up) population-based cohort. Near VI was defined as visual acuity < 20/40 measured at 30 cm. Associations between determinants of poor cardiovascular health collected at baseline and near visual acuity measured at 1 st follow-up were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. Results Among the 549 participants included, 378 (68.8% [95% Confidence Interval: 64.9%-72.7%]) had near VI. Of the determinants of poor cardiovascular health explored, we found that having high BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 (Odds Ratio= 2.15 [95% CI: 1.25–3.68]), diabetes (OR=2.12 [95% CI: 1.06–4.25]) and hypertension (OR=1.65 [95% CI: 1.02–2.64]) were independently associated with near VI. Conclusions Several determinants of poor cardiovascular health were associated to near VI in this population. This study suggests that promoting a good cardiovascular health could represent a target for VI prevention among older adults.

Older adults in sub-Saharan Africa living with children and grandchildren

2005 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Zimmer ◽  
Julia Dayton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals Prevalence and factors associated with poor self-rated health among community dwelling older adults in Lomé (Togo) in 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi ◽  
Martin Kouame Tchankoni ◽  
Ama Boilassi Adjonko ◽  
Wendpouire Ida Carine Zida-Compaore ◽  
Nicolas Konan Kouakou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Herbal Products ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

The number of older adults is increasing worldwide, including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, there is a paucity of data on the overall health status of older adults living in SSA. To assess the prevalence and factors associated with poor Self-Rated Health (SRH) among community-dwelling older adults in Lomé, Togo, we conducted a cross-sectional study from January to June 2019 in Lomé among community-dwelling older adults aged 50 years and older. A 30- minute questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, patterns of medication use and use of herbal products and dietary supplements during a face-to-face interview. SRH was assessed using a single item: Overall, you would say that your health is… (1) excellent, (2) very good, (3) good, (4) fair and (5) poor with response fair or poor defining poor SRH. A total of 344 respondents with median age 63 years, (IQR: 55-72) were enrolled in the study. Women represented 57.6% of the sample. Overall prevalence of poor SRH was 56.4% (95%CI: 51.0-61.9) and was the highest among females (62.6% vs 47.9%; P=0.007) and participants >60 years (61.5% vs 51.1%; P=0.021). Female sex, aged ≥60 years, osteoarthritis, hospitalization within the 12 months preceding the survey, polypharmacy, and the use of herbal products were factors associated with poor SRH (P<0.05). More than half of community- dwelling older adults had poor SRH in Lomé. Further studies are needed to guide policymakers in their efforts to design and implement meaningful policies to improve older adults health conditions.

Anxiety, isolation and diminishing resources: the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on residential care home facilities for older people in south-east Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prince Chiagozie Ekoh
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Care Home ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Fear And Anxiety ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Institutionalized older adults in care homes and long-care facilities have been identified as being at greater risk of COVID-19 related morbidity and mortality. Thus, this paper aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on care homes in south-east Nigeria given the recent increasing popularity of care homes in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted qualitative research method, and data was collected from 10 older residents and 5 caregivers using interviews from two care homes, while ensuring the safety of the researcher and participants. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings Findings revealed that the physical health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not a major problem in the homes. However, fear and anxiety, social disconnection and economic hardship were the major problems identified by the older residents and caregivers in the homes. Originality/value The popularity of care homes in Nigeria is growing as family structures continue to change. However, previous studies which have revealed devastating effect of COVID-19 on institutionalized older adults have been from the global north. This is the first study designed to bridge the gap in literature and contribute to knowledge on this topic from Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

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