1. Chronic Life-Limiting Illness and Informal Care in Ghana: Experiences of Older People and Their Family Carers
- Author
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Grealish, Laurie A, Moyle, Wendy, Davies, Nathan, de-Graft Aikins, Ama, Adonteng-Kissi, Barbara, Grealish, Laurie A, Moyle, Wendy, Davies, Nathan, de-Graft Aikins, Ama, and Adonteng-Kissi, Barbara
- Abstract
Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Griffith Health, Background: In Ghana, just as in many African countries, informal care for older people is derived from a shared culture of social responsibility, reciprocity and love. With a global increase in the older population and an increase in chronic life-limiting illness among older people, there is evidence of the emerging health, social and economic needs of older people living with chronic life-limiting illness. In rural Ghana, where there is limited access to adequate support services for chronic life-limiting illness management, the effect of globalisation on social change is impacting on the ability of the Ghanaian family systems to continue the historical culture of informal care for older people. However, there is limited evidence on the experiences of older people and their family carers with respect to chronic life-limiting illness and informal care in rural Ghana. Aim: To explore the experiences of older people and their family carers on chronic life-limiting illness and informal care in rural Ghana. Method: Underpinned by the transformative paradigm, a critical ethnographic research design was used as the logical framework for data collection and analysis of results. The research was conducted during 6 months of fieldwork in the Gomoa West District, Ghana. Four groups of participants, including 15 older people, 15 family carers and 5 health care professionals from a local hospital at the Gomoa West District, and 5 health care professionals from a national Palliative Care Clinic, were purposively sampled to participate in this research. An ethnographic interview method supported with daily fieldnote notes was used for data collection. The thematic analysis procedure suggested by Braun and Clarke (2013) was used for the analysis of each data set. Subsequently, conclusions were drawn based on the themes and their interpretation. Findings: Primary analysis of the data related to older people’s subjective experiences with chronic life-limiting illness included an in
- Published
- 2021