| dc.description.abstract | Studies have been carried out in developed countries examining widowhood and its related issues and strategies employed by the widowed persons. My study examines widowed persons experiences and their coping mechanisms in a deprived area. A case
study of Kibera Slums. The study focused on 27 widows and 27 widowers between the ages 19 and above 50 years, from different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, with varied education backgrounds who had been widowed from one to over ten years.
Studying the expenences among widowed persons and their coping strategies, two theories have been used to guide the study. The Role Transition and Symbolic Interaction Theories. The study used qualitative method using exploratory approach. Data was collected using questionnaires, through structured interviews and focus groups. Data analysis was done using tabulator, figures and charts analsysis.
'The study revealed that experiences among the widowed persons varied depending on the age, length of marriage before spouse died, gender, their economic status and the social support from family and the community this is turn influenced the way each or all coped with their widowhood status.
Both widows and widowers agreed that the financial burden rated highest, followed by psychological and mental effects. The widows also cited low self esteem due to the stigma placed on widowhood. All the respondents agreed that indeed the environment affected their widowhood status. The recommendations proposed by this study are that there is need to establish community based intervention measures, that the government of the day should put in place structures that would identify widows and lastly civic education on what widowhood is and the challenges and alternative ways of coping with widowhood should be adopted. | en_US |
