GENDER DISPARITY AND CHALLENGES OF CAREGIVING AMONG THE ELDERLY IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

ATTAH AMANA PHILIP, MAMMAN MATTHEW SAMUEL and JOHN OBIOMA UKAWUILULU

Abstract

Provision of care services for the elderly in Nigeria is in a recent time characterized by some challenges. This paper x-rayed Gender disparity and challenges of Caregiving among the Elderly in Kogi State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. A multistage selection sampling process involving cluster and simple random sampling method was used in the selection of three hundred and fifty two (352) elderly within the age of sixty years (60) and above, from six Local Government Areas, which covers the three Senatorial districts in Kogi State, Nigeria. Primary and Secondary data were utilized in the study. The primary data gathered through questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively, while the data gathered through in-depth interview were qualitatively analyzed to complement and support the quantitative analysis. Data were presented in simple percentage tables. The major findings of the study indicate that, caregiving for the elderly in Nigeria has been characterized by some challenges, and the elderly had to adopt coping strategies to combat these challenges. Premised on these observations, the study recommends that there is need for the establishment of National Agency for the Care of the Elderly (N.A.C.E) in Nigeria. The agency to be established will be charged with the responsibility of identifying locations of the elderly in communities as well as designing a regulatory framework on modalities to which family members who want to keep and care for the elderly could operate since the primary responsibility of this agency will among other things house and care for the elderly.