Authors : Adeyanju Awoniyi Babafemi, Fajemilehin Boluwaji Reuben and Ayandiran Emmanuel Olufemi
Abstract: The study examined the specific experiences (cultural and interactional) the feelings the coping strategies of the childless elderly women and determined roles of family members in the care of the childless elderly women with a view to understanding the challenges they faced as well as assist practicing nurses and social workers to understand special care and social support needs of the sub group. Eighty eight purposefully selected childless elderly women recruited through snow balling technique from 12 randomly selected local government areas formed the study population. A semi-structure interview schedule developed through extensive literature research and interactions with childless elderly women was the major tool used for data collection. The interview schedule was tested for validity and reliability using a test retest method. The correlation coefficient and a reliability of 0.82 were arrived at before being used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed a general trend of sorrow, neglect, abandonment, frustration, poverty, emotional assault and stigmatization from general among the childless elderly women. The study further revealed that the level of income of childless elderly women were significantly related to their health status (χ2 = 9.20, df = 1, p<0.01). In addition, it was revealed that the health status of childless elderly women were significantly related to their social support (χ2 = 22.17, df = 2, p<0.01). The study concluded that the health status of childless elderly women was mostly affected by income, age, effects of childlessness couple with social support.
Adeyanju Awoniyi Babafemi, Fajemilehin Boluwaji Reuben and Ayandiran Emmanuel Olufemi, 2012. Social Problems of Childlessness among Elderly Women in Ondo State Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 9: 180-187.