Attitude to Aging among Different Groups in Nigeria

Abstract

Attitude to aging and the aged was surveyed in three groups of Nigerians, 1) caregivers living at home with the elderly, 2) various categories of hospital workers, and 3) the general public. Based on scores of an eleven-item questionnaire the best attitude was in caregivers, and the poorest in hospital workers. Years of education had an overall negative effect on attitudinal measurement. An inference from this study is that the elderly are still valued, but caregivers could be under some stress and would appreciate assistance. It is important for developing countries like Nigeria to begin to think seriously of what types of public assistance the elderly and their families would need.

Functional Disability in Elderly Nigerians: Results from the Ibadan Study of Aging

“…Traditionally, elderly persons in need of care in African societies have relied on family members to provide it. 31 The findings of the current study demonstrate the urgency of the need for developing countries to become more aware of the consequences of the growth in the population of older people. The consequences include not just the inevitable rise in the numbers of elderly persons who will become dependent on others for their daily needs, but also the decline, for economic reasons (e.g., internal migration, increase in women working outside the home), in the availability of family members able and willing to provide such needs.…”

“…It raises serious questions about the availability of care to elderly persons in this society undergoing rapid social and economic changes. Traditionally, elderly persons in need of care in African societies have relied on family members to provide it 31 . The findings of the current study demonstrate the urgency of the need for developing countries to become more aware of the consequences of the growth in the population of older people.…”

Healthcare for Older Persons, A Country Profile: Nigeria

“…Wealthy families employ private nurses to care for their frail older members, whereas many others employ domestic helpers, who are mostly women. Baiyewu et al have reported that domestic helpers are more favorably disposed than hospital workers to care for sick older subjects 15 . Thus, home‐based care would appear to be better than institutional care for our older persons, but domestic helpers may become more difficult to find with time as a result of the universal basic education program that makes schooling mandatory.…”

“…Baiyewu et al have reported that domestic helpers are more favorably disposed than hospital workers to care for sick older subjects. 15 Thus, home-based care would appear to be better than institutional care for our older persons, but domestic helpers may become more difficult to find with time as a result of the universal basic education program that makes schooling mandatory. Female enrollment in postprimary schools increased from 26.6% to 45.6% between 1982 and 1994.…”

Mutual Biases Underlying the Problematic Relationship between Older Adults and Mental Health Providers: Any Solution in Sight?

“…Relative to the ageism of other types of health care professionals, the reader is referred to articles by Brooks (1993) and Paris et al (1997) on ageism among medical students and family practice residents, by Rowland and Shoemaker (1996), Ellis (1996), and Aday & Campbell (1995) on misconceptions of nurses and nursing students about aging, by DePaola, Neimeyer, & Ross (1994), Sherman, Roberto, & Robinson (1996), and Baiyewu et al (1997) on attitudes of hospital personnel toward older patients. Furthermore, for a review of the literature on the physician-older patient relationship, which is often affected by age-related factors, the reader is referred to Haug (1996).…”