Spousal Desertion and Coping Strategies among Ever-married Women with Breast Cancer in Kwara and Ogun States Nigeria

Abstract

AIM: The study examined the coping strategies among ever-married women with breast cancer in disrupted marriages (divorced, separated, or living-alone ever-married women) who also have limited access to social support.
 METHODS: Data for the study were extracted from 2015 behavioral risk factors for breast and cervical cancers in two states of Nigeria. Respondents for the study were identified through three approaches: (1) Self-reported disclosure of breast cancer, (2) informant-leading approach, and (3) outpatients located in oncological specialized health facilities and herbal homes. Formal approval was sought from the management of selected health facilities and community leaders. The respondents also voluntarily shared their experiences after obtaining their informed consent. Textual data obtained from a total of nine breast cancer survivors and patients identified and interviewed were analyzed for this study, using framework and content analytic procedures. The results were presented as excerpts and in themes.
 RESULTS: Results revealed two categories of respondents: (1) Breast cancer survivors/patients with husband and (2) those without husbands. Common perspectives were regrets, loss of intimacy, and determination to survive. Basic coping strategies identified are seeking medical support, resignation to fate, and involvement in religion activities. The study concludes that a partner’s support was a great yearning for survivors/patients.
 CONCLUSION: The authors recommended counseling on partner’s assistance among spouses, especially during sicknesses and diseases. It is also important to raise awareness of the risk factors of breast cancer and the need for constant check-ups among women in the study locations, and by extension, other sub-Saharan African countries.

Young Single Widow, Dynamics of In-Laws Interference and Coping Mechanisms: Simplicity–Parsimony Approach

“…The study examined the coping mechanisms among young widows (aged ≤ 40) who have experienced short conjugal relationships (≤5 years) and faced burdensome from the in-laws. This is quite different from other studies that have either considered bereavement [ 1 , 2 , 28 , 54 , 55 ] or coping strategies among widows irrespective of their age classifications or studies conducted without consideration of marital duration [ 3 , 4 , 34 ]. The study of widows’ experiences in the midst of in-laws influences and the sacrosanct marital system in Nigeria could be crucial for legislation and re-examination or enforcement of existing laws for women and girls’ rights and the abolition of harmful traditional rites that could affect health and diminishes the dignity of womankind.…”

“…In this study, a young widow is captured as the only ever-married woman (≤40 years) whose husband died in the last 5 years and has remained un-re-married until the survey period. The study is an extension of other studies that have highlighted concerns for families where the expected long-life partnership between a couple is disrupted by the demise of the supposed breadwinner of the family [ 2 , 4 , 26 ].…”

“…It signalled the continued significance of procreation in the traditional African marriage system, with covert and overt stigmatisation trailing any wife where the couple failed to have at least a child [ 2 ]. The aftermath of such stigmatisation cannot be benign to the health and wellbeing of the woman (especially those in childless status) and could definitely affect her economic productivity either at the homestead or in formal occupation [ 3 , 4 , 32 ]. Moreover, while certain widowhood rites, such as having sex with strange or deceased relatives, could engender contracting of infections, others, such as isolation for a certain number of days, could engender suicidal thoughts and spur health deterioration [ 34 ].…”

“…Conjugal bereavement is an unexpected marital disruption that could create psychological stressors and, improperly managed, spurs sickness (including mental health challenges) and death in the surviving spouse [ 1 , 2 ]. Whether the duration of the marriage is short or long, the common narratives over the experience of a widow are distress, ostracism, stigmatisation, and trauma [ 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

“…The event of marriage has social connotations and predisposes the beginning of family formation that plays a significant role in society. The intertwining of the three phenomena of marriage, family and society, as well as their states, are therefore essential determinants of not only the marriage and the family itself but also fundamental to the health and wellbeing of the society and critical to sustainable economic development [ 4 , 25 ]. Marriage is expected to provide a long-life partnership between the couple and bring care and security for both wife and husband but especially serves as an economic refuge for the wife and children in sub-Saharan Africa, where the husband is expected to be the family head and the breadwinner [ 4 , 25 ].…”