Department of Sociology, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Department of Social Work and Community Development, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Nov;30(6):2250-2258. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13774. Epub 2022 Mar 2.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unpredictable challenges globally. Older adults are among the population groups most vulnerable to COVID-19. Poor urban elders in Ethiopia struggle to meet their basic needs due to waning traditional familial norms of providing care for elders as a result of urbanisation, poverty and migration. The aim of this study was to give voice to vulnerable elders during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ethiopia and to reveal their sources of support. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected from 27 elders aged 60 and above in Debre Markos Town, Ethiopia via in-depth interviews conducted from March-May 2020. To determine the nature of support provided for destitute elders, data were also gathered from two local officials. Narrative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four prominent themes were identified: 'Hunger would kill us instead of COVID-19,' 'Feeling hopeless and begging to die,' 'We prefer social support rather than food donations' and 'Gratitude.' Elders considered the practice of social distancing to fight COVID-19 as an unwelcome luxury for people whose livelihood depends on begging and petty trade. The physical distancing programme put elders in isolation, diminishing their capacity to maintain their livelihood. Due to the increasing disrespectful attitudes towards aged people, elders felt even less valued than usual. Interactions were described as undermining, embarrassing and abusive. A special emergency fund and organised social supports are needed to minimise the effect of the pandemic on vulnerable groups like destitute elders in Ethiopia. Moreover, an institutional welfare response is needed to ensure elders can live a dignified life.
COVID-19 大流行在全球带来了不可预测的挑战。老年人是最容易感染 COVID-19 的人群之一。埃塞俄比亚贫困的城市老年人由于城市化、贫困和移民导致传统家庭照顾老人的规范逐渐减弱，难以满足基本需求。本研究旨在为 COVID-19 封锁期间埃塞俄比亚的弱势老年人发声，并揭示他们的支持来源。采用定性案例研究设计，于 2020 年 3 月至 5 月期间，通过深入访谈，从埃塞俄比亚德布雷马科斯镇收集了 27 名 60 岁及以上的老年人的数据。为了确定为贫困老年人提供的支持性质，还从两名当地官员那里收集了数据。使用主题分析对叙事数据进行了分析。确定了四个突出的主题：“饥饿会比 COVID-19 先杀死我们”、“感到绝望并乞求死亡”、“我们宁愿接受社会支持而不是食物捐赠”和“感激”。老年人认为，社交距离是对抗 COVID-19 的一种不受欢迎的奢侈品，因为那些生计依赖乞讨和小生意的人无法实施社交距离。物理距离计划使老年人孤立无援，削弱了他们维持生计的能力。由于对老年人的不尊重态度日益增加，老年人感到自己的价值甚至比平时更低。互动被描述为具有破坏性、尴尬和侮辱性。需要特别的紧急基金和有组织的社会支持，以减轻 COVID-19 对埃塞俄比亚贫困老年人等弱势群体的影响。此外，还需要机构福利回应，以确保老年人能够过上有尊严的生活。
