Encounter of Older People in Sub-Saharan Africa with COVID19: A Review of Literature

Abstract

This chapter presents the results of a literature review of 34 studies on the effect of COVID-19 on older people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review shows that persons aged 60 years and above constituted over 50% of the deaths in the African region associated with COVID-19. The studies reveal that the risk factors for COVID-related deaths and infections were being male and advanced in age as well as those with existing comorbidities, delayed access to critical care service, reduced income, and social support. The studies highlight the situation of older people in long-term care facilities that showed a higher case fatality among those advanced in age and lack of transport to access the location of the care facility. The studies highlight how measures such as physical distancing and the overall challenges and conditions surrounding COVID-19 resulted in fear and anxiety among older people in these facilities. The studies show that though comorbidities were a risk factor for COVID-19 for all demographic groups, they elevated the risk for older people. Hypertension and diabetes were identified as common comorbidities that elevated COVID-19 deaths and infection among older people in Africa. The social, health, and economic effects of COVID19 on older people examined by the studies included loss of jobs, loss of businesses, contracting Covid 19 virus, hospitalization, fear that the impact of the containment measures could kill the older adults faster than the virus itself, a feeling of neglect and underestimation of healthcare needs of older adults, seeking for an alternative positive health-seeking behaviour among the older adults, and the concern about the absence of functional policy and plan to address the welfare of older adults. The studies revealed that social protection and universal pensions were key interventions for addressing the impact of COVID-19 on older people. These interventions became necessary because, during the Covid 19 lockdown, older people experienced reduced access to income, limiting the purchase of medicines and access to health care services. One study shows that older people who received old age grants utilized it to support their adult children and grandchildren.