scholarly journals Exploring the Preparedness of Ghanaians for Retirement and Ageing: A Case Study of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area

Author(s):  
Irene Korkoi Aboh ◽  
Busisiwe P. Ncama

Introduction: There is evidence of the inability of older people in Nigeria, Ghana and other developing countries to sustain themselves through savings, assets or pensions. This situation highlights the minimal benefit of pensions, savings or assets as income sources for older people; old age very often brings poverty and disability. Methodology: A qualitative interpretive design informed the study. The study area was categorized into three distinct ecological areas namely urban, periurban and rural areas. Twenty interviews and three focus group discussions with 68 elderly persons were conducted in ten sub-districts in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. The forty-eight elderly individuals were put into groups of 8, 20 and 20 for the focus group discussions. Data was thematically analysed.Results: Four major themes and subthemes were identified to reflect the pertinent issue of exploring and defining the preparedness of people for their retirement and ageing. There was evidence that preparing for old age is not an active precedent for the people of Cape Coast and they still believe in the traditional system of caring where it is the sole responsibility of the family to care for its own aged members.Conclusion: It is evident that formal care is not practiced in Ghana and that the aged therefore find the idea bewildering. They want to experience this care, but existing norms expect the family members to single-handedly provide care for their aged.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 812-812
Author(s):  
Rahul Malhotra ◽  
Ad Maulod ◽  
June May Ling Lee ◽  
Grand Hak-Land Cheng ◽  
Si Yinn Lu ◽  
...  

Abstract Generativity (concern in establishing and guiding the next generation) at older ages is increasingly relevant with population ageing and realization of older people as a resource for younger generations. Generativity encompasses two aspects, concern (attitudes/motivations for generativity) and acts (activities to enact/achieve generativity). Existing scales for generative concern and acts pertain to Western populations, limiting their valid measurement in Asian populations. We conducted 12 focus group discussions with 103 older adults in Singapore, to inform a conceptual model of generativity. A striking finding was the family-centric focus of generativity. It led to the development of content-validated scales for generative concern (38-items; e.g. I am concerned that younger people are too pampered) and generative acts (56-items; e.g. In past 3 months, how many times did you teach younger people right from wrong), in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. Future work will establish their structural, convergent/divergent and predictive validity, and reliability.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salmah Lao Manalocon- Basher

Female circumcision refers to the procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female external genital organs. The reasons for doing this vary but it is commonly observed in places where Muslims predominate. The study is intended to determine: 1) the rate of females who had undergone female circumcision in Madrasah School compared to those who went to English schools, 2) the prevalence rate of female circumcision among Meranaos, and 3) the practices and experiences of women who have undergone FC. The study utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods using a designed questionnaire, interview and focus group discussions with the respondents. The results showed that more girls who were studying in Madrasah have undergone this practice compared to the number of girls who are in Western or English schools. It also showed that the prevalence rate of this practice is indeed high in the rural areas, which is 86%. The practice of FC is performed either during Fridays, Holidays or Mondays and Thursdays. Each mentioned day has meanings and there are certain procedures and instructions being followed in doing the practice. In conclusion, religious justification remains the strong reason why FC is still rampantly performed in the different rural areas of Lanao del Sur, Philippines.


Author(s):  
Woubishet Girma ◽  
Dessalegn Tamiru ◽  
Mirkuzie Woldie ◽  
Ayantu Kebede ◽  
Zewdie Birhanu ◽  
...  

Background Establishing maternity waiting homes is a key strategy to address the geographic barrier to obstetric care access among women living in rural areas. In Ethiopia, maternity waiting homes have been in use for several years, with a sharp increase in the number of such facilities recently. However, there is little empirical evidence detailing the experiences and challenges faced by women during the implementation of this initiative in Ethiopia. Methods This study used a multiple case study design with qualitative data collection methods, and was conducted from October to November 2016. Data were collected using focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and direct observation of each maternity waiting home. All interviews and focus group discussions were recorded using a digital voice recorder. Data were transcribed and translated into English. The coding process and formation of thematic structure was assisted by Atlas ti7.5 computer software. Results The participants reported that they were satisfied and comfortable with the services at the maternity waiting homes, as were their husbands and community leaders. Facility, social and environmental challenges were identified as common barriers to the utilisation of maternity waiting homes by stakeholders at different levels. Healthcare providers reported common challenges at maternity waiting homes include a lack of basic utilities (water and electric supply), and overcrowding because of a shortage of space and lack of medical supplies. Some women reported that poor transportation services and the distance to facilities hindered the utilisation of maternity waiting homes. Conclusions There are social and facility challenges related to the use of maternity waiting homes in Ethiopia. Policymakers and health managers should work with relevant sectors to mitigate the effect of facility, social and environmental barriers and maximise the use of maternity waiting homes.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1949
Author(s):  
Mat Lowe ◽  
Mamsamba Joof ◽  
Bomar Mendez Rojas

Background: Over the last two decades, early marriage in the Gambia declined significantly (from 58% to 30%), however this rate is still high. The reasons for the decline but continuing practice of early marriage, despite existing legislation prohibiting child marriage, are not very well understood. Very few studies have been conducted to find out what and how local factors influence decisions about early marriage in the Gambia. More information is therefore needed on underlying reasons for the persistence of early marriage in the Gambia so that program managers can use this information to design strategies to decrease early marriages. Methods: The study was conducted in 24 rural settlements in Lower Baddibu District in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. It was based on a mixed-methods design including a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 181 female adolescents, focus group discussions with 16 male and female parents, and eight key informant interviews with community-based decision makers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, while survey data were analyzed using Stata. Results: The study finds that ethnicity and the fear that girls may engage in premarital sex are two important factors associated with early marriage in rural Gambia. In addition, lack of meaningful alternatives to marriage including work opportunities in rural areas may also limit the options and resources available to girls, resulting in early wedlock. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in order to decrease early marriages in rural Gambia, future efforts should focus on understanding and addressing the role of ethnicity in determining marriage patterns and allaying the fear around premarital sex.The findings also suggest a need to provide girls with employment-oriented education including vocational skills which may result into more empowerment and a delay in marriage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 826-826
Author(s):  
Aine Ni Leime

Abstract There is a need for research to gain understanding of the social and cultural constructions of ageing masculinities that, as Gullette emphasises, operate together to construct a ‘culture of decline’. This presentation explores how cultural images of older men inform constructions of ageing and lived realities in Ireland. It draws on the Irish findings from a cross-national, inter-disciplinary project conducted in 2019 investigating older men’s perceptions of how they are represented in film and advertising. It applies innovative narrative and thematic analysis to data from four focus group discussions, interviews and reflective diaries, to explore participants’ (Irish men aged 65+) reactions to the portrayal of older men in TV and film. Stereotypes identified included older men as conservative, grumpy, sad, streetwise, trickster, or action hero. Thematic analysis identified themes including men’s identification with their jobs; their diminishing roles in the family; and old age as a matter of perception.


F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1949
Author(s):  
Mat Lowe ◽  
Mamsamba Joof ◽  
Bomar Mendez Rojas

Background: Over the last two decades, early marriage in the Gambia declined significantly (from 58% to 30%), however this rate is still high. The reasons for the decline but continuing practice of early marriage, despite existing legislation prohibiting child marriage, are not very well understood. Very few studies have been conducted to find out what and how local factors influence decisions about early marriage in the Gambia. More information is therefore needed on underlying reasons for the persistence of early marriage in the Gambia so that program managers can use this information to design strategies to decrease early marriages. Methods: The study was conducted in 24 rural settlements in Lower Baddibu District in the North Bank Region of the Gambia. It was based on a mixed-methods design including a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 181 female adolescents, focus group discussions with 16 male and female parents, and eight key informant interviews with community-based decision makers. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic content analysis, while survey data were analyzed using Stata. Results: The study finds that ethnicity and the fear that girls may engage in premarital sex are two important factors associated with early marriage in rural Gambia. In addition, lack of meaningful alternatives to marriage including work opportunities in rural areas may also limit the options and resources available to girls, resulting in early wedlock. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in order to decrease early marriages in rural Gambia, future efforts should focus on understanding and addressing the role of ethnicity in determining marriage patterns and allaying the fear around premarital sex.The findings also suggest a need to provide girls with employment-oriented education including vocational skills which may result into more empowerment and a delay in marriage.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-177
Author(s):  
Henrik Rahm ◽  
Magdalena Andersson ◽  
Anna-Karin Edberg

This paper explores focus group discussions of registered nurses in municipal palliative care for older people, using data collected by researchers with an interest in health sciences. The linguistically based discourse analyis builds on a combination of Bakhtinian notions of dialogicity, the Other and addressivity, the use of quotations, and also van Leeuwen’s framework for legitimation in discourse. The aim is to investigate strategies of addressing and legitimizing palliative care. Three types of narrative are discerned: the cautionary tale, fictionalization of professional experiences and the enactment of a fictive dialogue. The other professions involved (physicians, assistant nurses) are positioned as the Other as a means of legitimizing the perspectives of the registered nurses. As the patients and their next of kin are the objects of professional activities, the notion of the Third (connecting to the Other) is proposed. The objectification is a manifestation of commitment with routinized and professional distance to the patients.


Author(s):  
Uttam Kumar Paul ◽  
Pramukh Bhattacharyya ◽  
Rituparna Bhattacharyya ◽  
Arup Bandyopadhyay

Background: In a tropical country like India, malaria is a major vector borne disease ranging from highly urbanised to deep rural areas. Though lots of health activities are going on against it in urban areas it is difficult to penetrate the deep rural areas particularly the tribal based interior villages because of lack of initiative, huge illiteracy, gross poverty and language problems. Therefore, a study was ventured in a rural community in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, India occupied by members of scheduled tribe called 'Bedia' whose mother tongue is a tribal language called 'Nagori'- to understand their knowledge and perceptions about malaria so that future actions can be taken to uplift their health status and awareness particularly in relation to malaria.Methods: Present study have conducted three focus group discussions (FGDs), one with male participants, one with females and the third one involving both the sexes. There were 9-11 participants per FGD and total of 28 participants were included in the study.Results: The transcripts were at first coded and then categories were framed. Total six categories, which are: perceived causes of malaria, perceived features of malaria, mode of spread, treatment, difficulties and modes of prevention. After the content analysis of the transcripts conclusion was drawn.Conclusions: Through our field work and the focus group discussions on the Bedia tribes we understood several misconceptions and lack of awareness of the tribal community about malaria. However, it was possible to create awareness and confidence among them that they could take all preventive measures and positive approaches towards malaria.


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