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

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.

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
IVY A. KODZI ◽  
STEPHEN OBENG GYIMAH ◽  
JACQUES B. EMINA ◽  
ALEX C. EZEH

ABSTRACTRapid urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa is believed to have weakened the traditional family ties which sustained older people in the past, but there is little empirical evidence about how older people today perceive their ageing experience in sub-Saharan Africa. The international gerontology literature demonstrates that, apart from financial wellbeing and health status, religious and secular forms of social involvement are key predictors of life satisfaction in older ages. No formal analysis, however, exists on the effects of religious and non-religious social involvement on the subjective wellbeing of older people in sub-Saharan nations. This study sought to fill this gap by examining the relationship between religious identity, religiosity, and secular social engagement using survey data from a sample of 2,524 men and women aged 50 or more years living in informal settlements of Nairobi City. We found significant differences in life satisfaction between Moslems, Catholics and non-Catholic Christians. Secular social support, personal sociability and community participation had positive effects on subjective wellbeing. In this context, we also observed that next to health status, the social involvement of older people was very important for life satisfaction.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwina Wambogo ◽  
Nadine Sahyoun

Abstract Objectives Using the social ecological model, the objectives of this study were to examine (1) the associations between proximate factors (food security and physical health) and measures of subjective well-being (SWB), and (2) the associations of distal community and country level risk factors with SWB, independent of food security and physical health. Methods Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) data of 5585 respondents aged 60 years or older included in Gallup World Poll (GWP) 2014 and 2015 were included in these analyses. GWP collected data on several indicators SWB (eudaimonic, hedonic and evaluative), together with data on food security, physical health, social support and social participation, and country level factors such as quality of roads and public transport. We estimated three hierarchical logistic regression models for each index controlling for country and GWP survey year as a fixed effects. Results In bivariate logistic regression analysis, food security was most associated with higher evaluative well-being (OR 2.80, 95% CI 2.05–3.83) and physical health was most associated with higher eudaimonic well-being (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.64–4.14). Physical health was also most associated with higher positive experiences (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.59–2.10), and most inversely associated with negative experiences (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.41–0.55), in bivariate analysis. In the multivariate models, emotional support explained eudaimonic well-being (OR 3.66, 95% CI 2.41–5.58), and evaluative well-being (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.26–2.79), followed by physical health and food security, respectively. Conclusions Food security, physical health and emotional support were strongly associated with SWB among older adults in this study. Food security is particularly important for QOL, and has a bi-directional relationship with these other predictors of SWB. Therefore, continued monitoring the food security of older adults in the region remains important. Funding Sources N/A.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S176-S176
Author(s):  
Markus H Schafer ◽  
Laura Upenieks ◽  
Julia DeMaria

Abstract HIV/AIDS has had a substantial social and economic impact on Sub-Saharan Africa, and research is only beginning to examine the prevalence and consequences of HIV infection among older adults in this region. Though informal social networks provide crucial resources for older people managing health problems, little is known about how the form and function of such networks differs by HIV status. Drawing from theories of health stigma and network mobilization, we use egocentric network data from HAALSI, the Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (N=5,059). HAALSI is a community-based study centered in Agincourt, South Africa, and focuses on adults ≥40 years of age. Approximately 12% of this sample is HIV positive. Results of multivariable logistic and Poisson regression reveal three main findings. First, relative to those without HIV, infected older adults have larger personal networks—including more kin and more non-kin network members. Second, HIV status has no discernible impact on whether people receive regular emotional support from those in their networks. Third, older adults who have disclosed their HIV status have a relatively high proportion of kin members in the close networks relative to those not infected with HIV and to those with HIV who have not disclosed their disease. Our findings point to the need for further research on the implications of social networks for outcomes such as well-being and health care delivery among older AIDS patients in the Global South.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oguntade Racheal Tomilola ◽  
Ojewole Elizabeth Bolanle ◽  
Ogunrombi Modupe Olufunmi

Abstract Background: Unintended pregnancies pose a severe threat to the well-being of HIV-positive women and their unborn children. Factors contributing to the high incidence of unintended pregnancies include contraceptive failure, low uptake of contraceptives, and misuse of contraceptives. Despite various contraceptive options, an increased incidence of unintended pregnancies is rampant among HIV-positive women in the region of sub-Saharan Africa. This study seeks to present evidence of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, including those using contraceptives.Method: This study entails a scoping review to survey and interrogate the literature to provide evidence for the incidence of unintended pregnancies among HIV-positive women in sub-Saharan Africa. A proposed framework by Arksey and O'Malley will guide this scoping review. Peer-reviewed articles which address the research questions will constitute the main search. Electronic databases such as EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, World of Science, World Health Organization (WHO) library databases, Science Direct, Google Scholar PubMed, and grey literature search will be involved. References list from studies included will also be searched. The investigation of articles will be done employing keywords from the studies included. The inclusion and exclusion criteria will guide two separate reviewers with the screening of abstracts and full papers. To summarize the findings from this review, thematic content analysis will be done using NVivo version 11.Discussion: We expect that this review will add to the current body of knowledge on the incidence of unintended pregnancies among HIV-positive women, identify gaps for further future research, and show evidence that may contribute to strengthening the health system's regulations, guidelines, and policies that may help prevent unintended pregnancies among HIV positive women. Registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/EY3R5


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshena Naidoo ◽  
Jacqueline van Wyk

Abstract Background Globally people are living longer, resulting in an increased demand for primary care services to be responsive to geriatric health needs. There is however, little information on the nature and prevalence of age-related health conditions among older adults in the sub-Saharan African (SSA) region. This scoping review was undertaken to synthesise evidence on the scope and nature of age-related health needs among people aged 60 years and older in SSA. Methods We systematically searched five electronic databases for studies published prior to 30 June 2019. Using the keywords “Africa”, “older adult” or “geriatric”, and “health”, two independent reviewers used a set of eligibility criteria to extract and screen the abstracts and full-text publications. Particular focus was given to age-dependent disorders in people over 60 years such as dementia, disability and falls Results Sixty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The review revealed a noticeable absence of studies from the majority of Sub-Saharan African countries. Publications included for review represent twelve countries from this region. The morbidities reported on included dementia, functional impairment, mental health, falls, sarcopenia and nutritional disorders, sensory impairment, frailty and musculoskeletal disorders. Many of these conditions co-existed among older adults, resulting in impaired quality of life and disability. Modifiable factors for geriatric morbidity such as hypertension, depression, cognitive and sensory impairments were under-diagnosed and often untreated. Low awareness and management of these conditions were noted among health providers and communities in SSA region. Conclusions The body of empiric research and evidence on age-related health conditions in geriatric people in SSA remains small. Further research is required on screening and management programs for age-related conditions in people over 60 years in SSA, and health professions training in the care of older adults. Ethics and dissemination : This study did not include human participants. Data was sourced from published literature. Keywords: older adult - geriatric - aged - health - Africa


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberta Baffour-Awuah ◽  
Solina Richter

Estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal that perinatal loss is a threat in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been established that half of all stillbirths and neonatal deaths occur around the onset of labour to delivery. Approximately 75% of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, giving the region the highest level of perinatal loss in the world. There are limited studies that have investigated the experiences of and support for women who experience perinatal loss. This article reports on a scoping review that aimed to explore and summarise the existing literature about the experiences of perinatal loss among couples in sub-Saharan Africa, and to identify the relevant support health professionals and the community give to improve the well-being of parents experiencing perinatal loss. Electronic databases were used to search comprehensively peer-reviewed articles and grey literature between 2005 and 2019. Two independent reviewers screened and analysed the selected articles through a data charting procedure. Eight articles met the inclusion criteria for the study. They were all qualitative studies: seven of them were peer-reviewed articles and one was a master’s thesis. The findings were categorised under two themes: (1) emotional experiences of perinatal loss among sub-Saharan African women; and (2) support systems available for these women. The literature review highlighted the limited research and lack of literature about the emotional experiences of bereaved couples in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the literature review revealed that bereaved couples need more support to reduce psychological trauma. The study findings demonstrated the need for more research to enhance understanding of and improve the services provided to bereaved couples and their families.  


Author(s):  
Brian Stanley

This book charts the transformation of one of the world's great religions during an age marked by world wars, genocide, nationalism, decolonization, and powerful ideological currents, many of them hostile to Christianity. The book traces how Christianity evolved from a religion defined by the culture and politics of Europe to the expanding polycentric and multicultural faith it is today—one whose growing popular support is strongest in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, and other parts of Asia. The book sheds critical light on themes of central importance for understanding the global contours of modern Christianity, illustrating each one with contrasting case studies, usually taken from different parts of the world. Unlike other books on world Christianity, this one is not a regional survey or chronological narrative, nor does it focus on theology or ecclesiastical institutions. The book provides a history of Christianity as a popular faith experienced and lived by its adherents, telling a compelling and multifaceted story of Christendom's fortunes in Europe, North America, and across the rest of the globe. It demonstrates how Christianity has had less to fear from the onslaughts of secularism than from the readiness of Christians themselves to accommodate their faith to ideologies that privilege racial identity or radical individualism.


Author(s):  
Paul Chaisty ◽  
Nic Cheeseman ◽  
Timothy J. Power

This chapter introduces the three regions—sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Former Soviet Union—and the nine countries—Armenia, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, and Ukraine—that provide the empirical material for the book. It introduces the two criteria used for case selection: 1) democratic competitiveness; 2) de jure and de facto constitutional provisions that empower presidents to be coalitional formateurs. It also introduces a variable that measures the salience of cross-party cooperation: the Index of Coalitional Necessity. Finally, it sketches the political landscape that has shaped the dynamics of coalitional presidentialism within each region, and it draws attention to important contextual differences between the nine country cases.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document