Abstract
D.Cur. (Community Nursing Science)
The purpose of the study was to develop a strategy to assist community nurses
facilitate the mobilization of resources for meeting the basic needs of the elderly
in the peri-urban and rural communities within the Hhohho region in Swaziland.
Qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research designs were used
to explore and describe the basic needs and the resources for meeting the needs
of the elderly.
In order to achieve the study objectives and be logical, this study was organized
into two phases namely: phase one and two.
Phase one focused on the first objective namely: to explore and describe the
basic needs and resources of the elderly in the peri-urban and rural communities
in the Hhohho region in Swaziland.
The second phase focused on the second objective namely: to develop and
describe the strategy for mobilizing the resources meeting the basic needs of the
elderly.
Purposive sampling was utilized to select participants who met the inclusion
criteria. Data were collected using focus groups and individual indepth face-toface
interviews. Tesch method of qualitative data analysis was utilized to identify
themes.
From the study findings the researcher and the independent coder identified the
following themes from the focus groups and individual indepth face-to-face
interviews with the elderly and the key informants in the peri-urban and rural
communities in the Hhohho region:
• Theme 1: Need for resources because of poverty
• Theme 2: Need for support because of burden for caring for others
• Theme 3: Need for health care because of health challenges
• Theme 4: Need for company because of loneliness
• Theme 5: Need for protection because of abuse of the elderly
persons
The study highlighted a lack of resources including food security, housing
accommodation, clothing, water supply and basic sanitation, electricity supply
and lack of financial resource.
The burden of caring for grandchildren who were orphans due to HIV/AIDS
related illnesses and others as well as chronic illnesses were also reported...