Mwendwa, Purity, Clark, Andrew and Leroi, Iracema (2024) Social engagement and older adults in rural sub-Saharan Africa. A rapid realist review protocol. Open Science Framework (OSF), Charlottesville, VA.

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Abstract

Protocol - As people get older, their ability to remain socially engaged may change depending on their physical, mental and cognitive health.Lack of social engagement at older age has been linked to cognitive decline and the risk of developing dementia. The sub-Saharan African (SSA) region will realise the greatest increase in the number of older adults (those aged 60 years and above) in the coming years yet most countries in SSA have not prioritised older adults’ health and social care needs in national health and social policies . Poverty , loneliness , social isolation and physical inactivity are factors that impact levels of social engagement. Promoting social engagement among older adults can have knock-on effects; It can enhance peer and social networks, which can be a source of social, emotional or material support with the potential to improve well-being .While more research is needed to inform the development or improvement of interventions targeting social isolation of older adults in SSA, it is particularly important to better understand how such interventions work, or do not work in particular contexts, and how these interact to bring about a certain outcomes. This study protocol outlines the steps to be undertaken in conducting a rapid realist review (RRR) that examines what mechanisms and contextual factors promote or hinder social engagement among older people in rural SSA. RRR is a methodology that is based on realist approaches which seek to determine how and why programs /interventions work, for whom they work, in what contexts, and to what extent.

Item Type:	Other
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dementia, care, community, social care, Kenya, sub-Saharan Africa, gerontology, sociology, social and behavioral sciences
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Inequalities
Last Modified:	09 Jan 2025 15:18
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/49328

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