Understanding older adults' functioning and health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana: A descriptive qualitative study
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health Social Care Community.
Abstract
Little research has been conducted to explore the functional status of community-dwelling older adults in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, especially during the
COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the functional status and health-seeking behavior of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. Utilising
Using a descriptive-qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were used to collect
data from 12 eligible older adults from southern Ghana. With the use of NVivo (v12),
descriptive and focused coding techniques were employed to analyse the data. The
following five themes were identified after the data analysis: (a) older adults' health
status during COVID-19 pandemic, (b) feeling limited; (c) feeling of unhappiness for
being inactive, (d) striving to be active and (e) seeking healthcare during COVID-19
pandemic. This study revealed the unique health and social-related needs of Ghanaian
older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study's findings draw attention to
the urgent need for the state to devise practical health and social-related initiatives
to support older adults during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
COVID-19, health status, health-seeking behaviour