Exploring and Understanding Human Ageing in Nigeria from the Eyes of African Belief System
- August 25, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Sociology
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue VIII, August 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186
Exploring and Understanding Human Ageing in Nigeria from the Eyes of African Belief System
Atumah, Oscar N.1, Alfa, Fatima F.2
Department of Sociology, University of Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract: – This study discusses the phenomena of aging, aging-associated needs, and challenges of healthcare provision in Africa from the perspective of African belief systems. African cultural heritage presents older adults as custodians of custom, and as people who are full of wisdom, representing the mirror through which the society sees. It is believed that older adults deserve some respect and should age in their homes. However, caring for older adults were reserved for women, but we argue that such an approach is not sustainable, and alternatives are needed. Older adults have peculiar healthcare needs, and as such, moral support alone will not be sufficient, as it appears to be the only thing that the family may be able to continue to offer. Thus, the study recommends institutional poverty alleviation in Africa as it remains a stumbling block to any meaningful innovation and change to lifestyle. Policy enactment and strict implementation guidelines, in addition to private sector participation, are crucial to tackling the issues of aging in Nigeria. Sensitization on aging-related matters can be accomplished by introducing gerontology and human services courses in primary and secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning.
Keywords: African Belief System, Nigeria, Human Ageing and Healthcare
I. INTRODUCTION
Generally, it is believed that a person who has lived to be 60 years and above can be classified as an older person. However, strict adherence to chronological age as a measure of classification into old age may be inappropriate, given the fact that most societies have no accurate birth records, but attributes age to individuals based on roles or social status, Wells (as cited in Bramucci & Erb, 2007). Aging has increasingly become a social, economic, and political reality in Africa. Many agencies have alluded to the exponential growth of the aging population in Africa, and especially sub-Saharan Africa. Still, government and policy experts have not taken the issue of aging, and its healthcare needs seriously. Primarily, we attribute the lag to the traditional African belief system and its effects in understanding aging.
