Overview
In sub-Saharan Africa, older people make up a relatively small fraction of the total population and are supported primarily by family and other kinship networks. They have traditionally been viewed as repositories of information and wisdom, and are critical pillars of the community but as the HIV/AIDS pandemic destroys family systems, the elderly increasingly have to deal with the loss of their own support while absorbing the additional responsibilities of caring for their orphaned grandchildren. Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa explores ways to promote U.S. research interests and to augment the sub-Saharan governments' capacity to address the many challenges posed by population aging. Five major themes are explored in the book such as the need for a basic definition of ""older person,"" the need for national governments to invest more in basic research and the coordination of data collection across countries, and the need for improved dialogue between local researchers and policy makers. This book makes three major recommendations: 1) the development of a research agenda 2) enhancing research opportunity and implementation and 3) the translation of research findings. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary Part I: Report -- 1. Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations for Furthering Research References Part II: Papers -- 2. Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Changing Demography of the Region 3. Demographic Impacts of the HIV Epidemic and Consequences of Population-wide Treatment of HIV for the Elderly: Results from Microsimulation 4. The HIV/AIDS Epidemic, Kin Relations, Living Arrangements, and the Elderly in South Africa. 5. Older Adults and the Health Transition in Agincourt, Rural South Africa: New Understanding, Growing Complexity 6. The Situation of Older People in Poor Urban Settings: The Case of Nairobi, Kenya 7. Labor Force Withdrawal of the Elderly in South Africa 8. HIV/AIDS and Older People in South Africa 9. Interactions Between Socioeconomic Status and Living Arrangements in Predicting Gender-Specific Health Status Among the Elderly in Cameroon 10. Survey Measures of Health: How well do Self-Reported and Observed Indicators Measure Health and Predict Mortality? Appendix A Workshop Agenda Appendix B About the Contributors
Full Product Details
Author: National Research Council ,
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education ,
Committee on Population ,
Jane Menken
Publisher: National Academies Press
Imprint: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309102810
ISBN 10: 0309102812
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 10 December 2006
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Author Information
Panel on Policy Research and Data Needs to Meet the Challenge of Aging in Africa, Barney Cohen and Jane Menken, Editors, National Research Council
