Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study
Background: Research on the lived experience of dementia is burgeoning across the social and health sciences. Yet, very little is still known about the experience of dementia for many tribes and ethnoreligious groups, as most studies are conducted in Western countries. Objective: The aim is to adva...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-03-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1338 |
| _version_ | 1797223682148401152 |
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| author | Elizabeth O. George Ruth L. Bartlett |
| author_facet | Elizabeth O. George Ruth L. Bartlett |
| author_sort | Elizabeth O. George |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Research on the lived experience of dementia is burgeoning across the social and health sciences. Yet, very little is still known about the experience of dementia for many tribes and ethnoreligious groups, as most studies are conducted in Western countries.
Objective: The aim is to advance the understanding of the role of faith and prayer in the lives of people with dementia in Nigeria through a lens of everyday citizenship.
Method: Interviews were conducted with 17 older people with dementia in a low-income, Yoruba-speaking community in Southwestern Nigeria. After transcription, the data were analysed thematically.
Results: The major theme identified in participants’ accounts was that prayer served as a space for active and agentic participation. This theme was further elaborated upon through four subthemes: (1) agency in routine and daily prayer, (2) cognitive (re)framing through prayer, (3) prayer as a vehicle for active social interaction and support, and (4) prayer as work and transaction.
Conclusion: Participants described religious practices as important to their acceptance of the situations, their feelings of hope in everyday lives, and their connection and contributions to the community. Analysis also shows the centrality of relationality in the everyday experiences of people with dementia.
Contribution: This article contributes to advancing the understanding of the socially orientated everyday experience of dementia. It contributes to a small body of literature on the social aspect and everyday experiences of living with dementia in Africa and stands out as the first of its kind study in Nigeria. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:41:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3a5aa0a01704d48be6fd8c42e8602f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:41:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3a5aa0a01704d48be6fd8c42e8602f62024-04-04T08:42:14ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202024-03-01130e1e1010.4102/ajod.v13i0.1338389Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative studyElizabeth O. George0Ruth L. Bartlett1Centre of Diaconia and Professional Practice, VID Specialized University, OsloFaculty of Health Studies, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway; and School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, SouthamptonBackground: Research on the lived experience of dementia is burgeoning across the social and health sciences. Yet, very little is still known about the experience of dementia for many tribes and ethnoreligious groups, as most studies are conducted in Western countries. Objective: The aim is to advance the understanding of the role of faith and prayer in the lives of people with dementia in Nigeria through a lens of everyday citizenship. Method: Interviews were conducted with 17 older people with dementia in a low-income, Yoruba-speaking community in Southwestern Nigeria. After transcription, the data were analysed thematically. Results: The major theme identified in participants’ accounts was that prayer served as a space for active and agentic participation. This theme was further elaborated upon through four subthemes: (1) agency in routine and daily prayer, (2) cognitive (re)framing through prayer, (3) prayer as a vehicle for active social interaction and support, and (4) prayer as work and transaction. Conclusion: Participants described religious practices as important to their acceptance of the situations, their feelings of hope in everyday lives, and their connection and contributions to the community. Analysis also shows the centrality of relationality in the everyday experiences of people with dementia. Contribution: This article contributes to advancing the understanding of the socially orientated everyday experience of dementia. It contributes to a small body of literature on the social aspect and everyday experiences of living with dementia in Africa and stands out as the first of its kind study in Nigeria.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1338dementiacitizenshipreligionafricalived experience |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth O. George Ruth L. Bartlett Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study African Journal of Disability dementia citizenship religion africa lived experience |
| title | Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in Nigeria: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | religion and the everyday citizenship of people with dementia in nigeria a qualitative study |
| topic | dementia citizenship religion africa lived experience |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1338 |
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