Determinants of Active and Healthy Ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Cameroon.

Fomba Louisette Naah,Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi,Aloysius Mom Njong

doi:10.3390/ijerph17093038

Abstract

This paper examines the determinants and policy implications of active and healthy ageing in Sub-Saharan Africa, taking the case of Bamenda, in Cameroon. Specifically, the study sought to identify and explore the determinants of active and healthy ageing using a mixed-methods approach involving qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Focus group discussions were conducted complemented by a survey (random and snowball sampling) using a structured questionnaire. Narratives and thematic analysis were used to analyze the data generated from the focus group discussion and Tobit regression was employed to analyze the multiple determinants of active ageing by dimensions and on a global scale in Cameroon. Results identified three key dimensions of active and healthy ageing: employment/livelihood options (EL), community support and health (CH) and housing and living in Bamenda (HL). The regression results reveal gender bias in active ageing, a non-effect of education and health on active ageing, and a positive effect of income on active and healthy ageing. This study contributes, among others, to the competence–environmental press theory on active ageing with regards to unbundling context specific determinants of active and healthy ageing. It equally derives policy considerations with regards to gender mainstreaming and the identification of age friendly income earning options to enhance the active and healthy ageing process.

Highlights

The eight domains listed in the World Health Organization (WHO) age friendly cities guide were discussed with the elderly persons and based on the recurrent themes, they were presented in a tabular form, with a focus on the challenges linked to the eight domains, and the recommendations proposed by participants
It was concluded that not all eight domains of the guideline were of immediate interest to the seniors in Bamenda, pointing out three priority domains for which action needs to be taken to make a difference in the quality of life of elderly persons in the city of Bamenda
There was a great desire to improve healthcare for the elderly. They identified the promotion of livelihood activities for the elderly and thirdly, building houses appropriate to older persons who do not own houses and build low cost houses for the elderly was raised (Third domain)

Summary

Introduction

The concept of “active ageing”, which requires careful and focused emphasis on cities, has been related to terms such as “healthy ageing”, “successful ageing”, “productive ageing”, “ageing well”, “living well”, “senior wellness”, “compression of morbidity”. These terms all subscribe to the radically non-traditional paradigm of human ageing, which includes gains as well as losses, and which posits possible improvement in future human health despite increasing longevity. These concepts strive to compress morbidity into a shorter period later in life, and decrease cumulative lifetime morbidity [2,3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion