The effects of Covid-19 pandemic on mental health of the elderly Igbo in two selected local government areas in anambra state of southeastern Nigeria Muoghalu Caroline Okumdi, Eboiyehi Friday Asiazobor1 Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria 1Centre for Gender and Social Policy Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Online published on 10 September, 2021. Abstract The study is qualitative using an in-depth interview method to obtain data from men and women aged 60 years or older. The main objective of the study is to examine the effects of Covid-19 on the mental health of the elderly Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria. It also explored their general well-being; the socio-economic effects of Covid-19, the specific causes of the elderly's mental health, and their coping strategies during the Covid-19 in the study area. The study was conducted in two purposively selected local government areas (LGAs) in Anambra State namely; Idemili North and South. In each of the selected LGAs, four communities were further selected. These included Abacha, Ogidi, Obosi, and Umuoji from Idemili North LGA and Akwu-Ukwu, Alor, Oba, and Nnobi from Idemili South LGA. In all, 16 elderly males (8 from each LGA) and 16 elderly females (8 from each LGA) were selected using key informants and snowballing techniques where an interviewee suggested another interviewee within his or her area. The information provided by the interviewees was recorded while relevant notes were also taken where necessary. The collected data were later translated and transcribed for further analysis. Analysis of data followed two approaches, namely; ethnographic summary and systematic coding via analysis to accommodate verbatim quotations. The study found that many of the interviewees experienced pain and weakness leading to despondency and consequently poor general wellbeing. Socio-economically, some of the participants complained about their inability to attend to their businesses during the lockdown or obtain remittances from their children most of whom are businessmen and women and whose daily survivals were dependent on these business activities. Consequently, while some of the interviewees experienced anxiety, distress, mental exhaustion, and insomnia, others said they had the feeling of uncertainty, fear, panic, depression, and mental disturbance. The major coping strategies included the playing of ludos and draughts, engaging in prayers, relaxation, light workouts, studying the word of God, constant communications with friends and family members. Other coping strategies were the reduction of listening to radios or watching the news about Covid-19 updates. The paper concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic and the directives imposed by the governments had contributed negatively to the mental health of the elderly in the study area. The paper suggests that Government and other stakeholders should put in place effective intervention programmes that would alleviate the mental health problem of the elderly during Covid-19. Top Keywords Covid-19, Mental health, Depression, Economy, Wellbeing, Elderly.. Top |