Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors
ObjectiveThis article aims to examine the influence of individual and community-contextual factors on the well-being of older women in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on Bronfenbrenner's process-person-context-time model.MethodsSecondary data from the nationally representative 2021...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1484469/full |
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| author | Andrew Banda Andrew Banda Jaco Hoffman Jaco Hoffman Vera Roos |
| author_facet | Andrew Banda Andrew Banda Jaco Hoffman Jaco Hoffman Vera Roos |
| author_sort | Andrew Banda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThis article aims to examine the influence of individual and community-contextual factors on the well-being of older women in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on Bronfenbrenner's process-person-context-time model.MethodsSecondary data from the nationally representative 2021 SEIA were used, and bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with the well-being of older women during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsOverall, 29% (613) of older women reported a decline in their well-being due to COVID-19. Older women in rural areas had lower odds of well-being [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.607, 95% 0455,0.809]. At the individual level, the well-being of older women during COVID-19 was associated with age (AOR O.362, 95% CI: 0.190,0.689) and being in paid work (AOR 0.737, 95% CI: 0.552,0.984). Despite education having a strong relationship with well-being, it had a weak effect on the well-being of older women during COVID-19. Community-level factors significantly associated with the well-being of older women amidst COVID-19 included attendance at public gatherings (e.g., church meetings, funerals) (AOR 1.465, 95% CI: 1.139,1.885) and perceived fear or anxiety due to COVID-19 (AOR 0.522, 95% CI: 0.392,0.696). A significant contextual-level factor was access to transport services during the pandemic (AOR 0.589, 95% CI: 0.390,0.890).ConclusionCOVID-19 has exposed the inadequacy of systems at different levels in meeting the needs of older women and promoting their well-being during emergencies. At the individual level, there is a need to support older women's livelihoods and educational opportunities. Despite limitations on social interactions during COVID-19, access to social gatherings and interactions supported older women's well-being. However, this was hampered by fear of contracting COVID-19 and the limitations in public transport that compromised their mobility to access services and visit people. A more extensive analysis of individual, community, and contextual factors should identify factors that support or compromise the well-being of older women during emergencies or shocks. There is a need for information about what livelihood strategies during and/or post shocks, or critical events such as COVID-19 could sustainably support older women's well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-999bd30eeaf249eca4e10044fb373e38 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-999bd30eeaf249eca4e10044fb373e382025-08-20T02:34:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592024-12-01510.3389/fgwh.2024.14844691484469Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factorsAndrew Banda0Andrew Banda1Jaco Hoffman2Jaco Hoffman3Vera Roos4Optentia Research Unit, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South AfricaDepartment of Demography, Population Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, University of Zambia, Lusaka, ZambiaOptentia Research Unit, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South AfricaThe Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford, United KingdomOptentia Research Unit, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South AfricaObjectiveThis article aims to examine the influence of individual and community-contextual factors on the well-being of older women in Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on Bronfenbrenner's process-person-context-time model.MethodsSecondary data from the nationally representative 2021 SEIA were used, and bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with the well-being of older women during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsOverall, 29% (613) of older women reported a decline in their well-being due to COVID-19. Older women in rural areas had lower odds of well-being [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.607, 95% 0455,0.809]. At the individual level, the well-being of older women during COVID-19 was associated with age (AOR O.362, 95% CI: 0.190,0.689) and being in paid work (AOR 0.737, 95% CI: 0.552,0.984). Despite education having a strong relationship with well-being, it had a weak effect on the well-being of older women during COVID-19. Community-level factors significantly associated with the well-being of older women amidst COVID-19 included attendance at public gatherings (e.g., church meetings, funerals) (AOR 1.465, 95% CI: 1.139,1.885) and perceived fear or anxiety due to COVID-19 (AOR 0.522, 95% CI: 0.392,0.696). A significant contextual-level factor was access to transport services during the pandemic (AOR 0.589, 95% CI: 0.390,0.890).ConclusionCOVID-19 has exposed the inadequacy of systems at different levels in meeting the needs of older women and promoting their well-being during emergencies. At the individual level, there is a need to support older women's livelihoods and educational opportunities. Despite limitations on social interactions during COVID-19, access to social gatherings and interactions supported older women's well-being. However, this was hampered by fear of contracting COVID-19 and the limitations in public transport that compromised their mobility to access services and visit people. A more extensive analysis of individual, community, and contextual factors should identify factors that support or compromise the well-being of older women during emergencies or shocks. There is a need for information about what livelihood strategies during and/or post shocks, or critical events such as COVID-19 could sustainably support older women's well-being.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1484469/fullindividual and community-contextual factorsolder womenwell-beingCOVID-19Zambia |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Banda Andrew Banda Jaco Hoffman Jaco Hoffman Vera Roos Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors Frontiers in Global Women's Health individual and community-contextual factors older women well-being COVID-19 Zambia |
| title | Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors |
| title_full | Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors |
| title_fullStr | Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors |
| title_short | Older women's well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: individual, community, and contextual factors |
| title_sort | older women s well being during the covid 19 pandemic individual community and contextual factors |
| topic | individual and community-contextual factors older women well-being COVID-19 Zambia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1484469/full |
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