Reflections on co-investigation through peer research with young people and older people in sub-Saharan Africa

While existing research acknowledges copious challenges faced by older adults (people aged 60 and over) in Ghana and most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, they fail to situate the lived experiences of this vulnerable group within the broader context of health geography and public health. This paper draws insights from ecological systems theory and the “geographies of older people” literature to examine the lived experiences of older people in Ghana. Data for the study were gathered using interviews (42) and sharing circles (10). Our findings reveal a complex mix of experiences consistent with the different levels of the environment. Dominant themes include access to social support, functional impairment and poor health status, social status, poor access to water and sanitation services, food insecurity, economic insecurity, and caregiving burden. These findings support the wide-held notion that the experiences of older people are complex and produced by the interplay of both individual and structural factors. Our findings demonstrate that sociocultural, economic, political, and climatic factors are important consideration in promoting elderly wellbeing and quality of life in Ghana.

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Access to conventional schooling for children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-national review of recent research evidence.

10.35648/20.500.12413/11781/ii218 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Pat Pridmore

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Children And Young People ◽

National Review ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Cross National

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

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1622 ◽

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.

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Young people and the rural economy: syntheses and implications.

Youth and the rural economy in Africa: hard work and hazard ◽

10.1079/9781789245011.0010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 173-180

Author(s):

James Sumberg ◽

Carolina Szyp ◽

Thomas Yeboah ◽

Marjoke Oosterom ◽

Barbara Crossouard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Young People ◽

Rural Development ◽

Rural Economy ◽

Conventional Wisdom ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Dominant Narratives ◽

Practical Implications

Abstract The research presented in this book uses qualitative and quantitative analysis to address the dominant narratives and 'conventional wisdom' about youth and the rural economy in sub-Saharan Africa. This final chapter synthesizes the empirical findings described in the previous chapters and sets out their discursive and practical implications for policy relating to youth, agricultural and rural development.

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Risky sexual behaviours among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: how can parents use the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion for change?

SAHARA-J Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS ◽

10.1080/17290376.2019.1636710 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 77-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elvis Tarkang ◽

Lilian Pencille ◽

Hubert Amu ◽

Joyce Komesour ◽

Prosper Lutala

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Young People ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Ottawa Charter ◽

Sexual Behaviours ◽

Risky Sexual Behaviours ◽

Sub Saharan

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Prevalences of dementia and cognitive impairment among older people in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Bulletin of the World Health Organization ◽

10.2471/blt.13.118422 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 91 (10) ◽

pp. 773-783 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Angelique Mavrodaris ◽

John Powell ◽

Margaret Thorogood

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Older People ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Problem Gambling in Rural Ghana: Prevalence and Gender Differentiation

Journal of Gambling Studies ◽

10.1007/s10899-020-09987-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Samuel Kofi Odame ◽

Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽

Mabel Oti-Boadi ◽

Johnny Andoh-Arthur ◽

Kwaku Oppong Asante

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Problem Gambling ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Rural Ghana ◽

Adolescent Problem Gambling ◽

The Family ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

And Gender

Abstract Problem gambling among young people is now a public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the behaviour remains understudied, particularly, among rural-dwelling young people in countries within the subregion. We aimed to estimate the 12 months prevalence of problem gambling and to describe the overall and gender differences and commonalities in personal factors and social adversities associated with problem gambling among adolescents in rural Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 1101 in-school adolescents aged 10–19 years in a rural district in Eastern Ghana; we used the DSM-IV-Multiple Response-Juvenile (DSM-IV-MR-J) questionnaire to assess problem gambling during the previous 12 months. Personal lifestyle and psychosocial variables were assessed using adopted items from the 2012 WHO–Global School-based Student Health Survey. Overall, three in 10 adolescents (3 in 10 females; 4 in 10 males) in rural Ghana reported problem gambling in the previous 12 months. Female adolescents who experienced problem gambling were more likely to report family-related social adversities, while adolescent male problem gambling was associated with school-related factors and interpersonal factors outside the family context. Regardless of gender, sexual abuse victimisation was associated with three times increase in the odds of experiencing problem gambling. Relative to the prevalence of gambling among adolescents in urban contexts in other countries within sub-Saharan Africa, the estimates of problem gambling among in-school rural adolescents in Ghana are higher. Although further studies are needed to understand the nuances of the behaviour, the evidence of this study underscores the need for general and targeted health promotion, intervention and prevention efforts to mitigate the family, school, and interpersonal social adversities associated with adolescent problem gambling in rural Ghana.

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