Department of Social Work, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
School of Social Work, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
J Cross Cult Gerontol. 2021 Dec;36(4):347-368. doi: 10.1007/s10823-021-09443-x. Epub 2021 Nov 8.
Compared with western countries, research on homelessness among older people in developing nations is minimal. Unlike in Global North nations that offer income security in late-life, in areas like Sub-Saharan Africa abject poverty contributes to older adults migrating from rural areas to urban centers in search of a means of livelihood. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by homeless older rural-urban migrants in Kobo Town, Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study employed a qualitative descriptive case study. Purposive sampling was used to identify ten older adult migrants who had been homeless for more than a year. Data from in-depth interviews was supplemented with key informant interviews, observation, and document review. The narrative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Study results revealed that homeless elders faced multiple challenges including lack of necessities such as food, shelter, and water, mobility issues, lack of employment access, social exclusion, and psychological struggles. The findings call attention to the need for practical access to social and economic empowerment responses to prevent and curb homelessness among older adults in developing nations.
与西方国家相比，发展中国家针对老年人无家可归问题的研究甚少。与在全球北方国家为老年人提供晚年收入保障不同，在撒哈拉以南非洲等地区，赤贫导致老年人从农村地区迁移到城市中心，以寻找生计。本研究旨在探讨埃塞俄比亚科博镇农村-城市移民无家可归老年人所面临的挑战。这项横断面研究采用了定性描述性案例研究。采用目的抽样法确定了 10 名无家可归时间超过一年的老年移民。深入访谈的数据辅以关键知情人访谈、观察和文件审查。使用主题分析对叙述性数据进行分析。研究结果表明，无家可归的老年人面临多种挑战，包括缺乏必需品，如食物、住所和水、行动不便、缺乏就业机会、社会排斥和心理斗争。这些发现引起人们对需要实际获得社会和经济赋权对策的关注，以防止和遏制发展中国家老年人无家可归现象。
