Aging in rural Nigeria: gendered exclusion of rural older adults and its impact on their perceived life satisfaction in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, there is an immense increase in the number of older adults. This can be attributed to an increase in life expectancy brought about by advances in general living standards as well as medicine and healthcare. However, exclusion which is linked to discrimination and access restrictions in areas such as education, employment, housing, and medical care has been identified as one of the challenges facing this increasing demographic. This study explored the exclusion of older rural women in southeast Nigeria and its impact on their life satisfaction. The study used a qualitative method of research to obtain data from a sample of 32 older adults aged 65 years and above through focus group discussions in Nru community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The obtained data were thematically analyzed and the findings showed that many older rural women in the study area are socially excluded at home, churches, and the larger society, with poverty and stereotyping of older rural women as less intelligent identified as the leading factor predisposing them to social exclusion in Nigeria. Results also showed that social exclusion brings about sadness and depression which have severe negative implications on their life satisfaction. Finally, implications of the findings for gerontological social workers through advocacy geared toward changes in social policy and structures that promote ageism were discussed.

Keywords: Older women; South-East Nigeria; exclusion; life satisfaction; rural.