TY - JOUR
T1 - The changing dynamics of community care and support in rural Malawi
T2 - The impact on Women's health and wellbeing at end of life
AU - Hawkins, Maren M.
AU - Dressel, Anne
AU - Kendall, Nancy
AU - Wendland, Claire
AU - Hawkins, Stephen
AU - Walker, Kimberly
AU - Mkandawire, Elizabeth
AU - Kirungi, Jackline
AU - Kako, Peninnah
AU - Mkandawire-Valhmu, Lucy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/5
Y1 - 2022/5
N2 - In this critical ethnographic study, we examined women's end of life experiences in Malawi, one of the few countries in the world with a national palliative care policy. Specifically, we explored how women's and their caregivers' experiences were shaped by family and community care, and material needs. Interviews and observations with female clients of a non-governmental organization in rural Central Malawi, and with their caregivers, revealed that community-level support was both precarious and critical. We found three main themes: (1) I stay with them well, (2) we eat together, and (3) everyone is for themselves. The analysis illustrates the centrality of community care, social in/exclusion, and availability of stable food, shelter, medical, and caregiving resources on health and wellbeing at end of life. We provide recommendations to strengthen community care opportunities and women's resource bases.
AB - In this critical ethnographic study, we examined women's end of life experiences in Malawi, one of the few countries in the world with a national palliative care policy. Specifically, we explored how women's and their caregivers' experiences were shaped by family and community care, and material needs. Interviews and observations with female clients of a non-governmental organization in rural Central Malawi, and with their caregivers, revealed that community-level support was both precarious and critical. We found three main themes: (1) I stay with them well, (2) we eat together, and (3) everyone is for themselves. The analysis illustrates the centrality of community care, social in/exclusion, and availability of stable food, shelter, medical, and caregiving resources on health and wellbeing at end of life. We provide recommendations to strengthen community care opportunities and women's resource bases.
KW - Community care
KW - Critical ethnography
KW - End of life care
KW - Malawi
KW - Palliative care
KW - Qualitative research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127346603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85127346603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114934
DO - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114934
M3 - Article
C2 - 35378429
AN - SCOPUS:85127346603
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 301
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
M1 - 114934
ER -