Grandmothers as Primary Caregivers for Their Grandchildren in Uganda: Challenges Faced and Potential for a Sustainable Livelihood Intervention

Abstract

Global drivers of health, such as poverty, climate change, and public health crises, pose significant impact on many vulnerable groups, such as grandmother-caregivers (GMCs). Engaging community partners in this problem could help in understanding salient issues and devising solutions to alleviate the challenges faced by GMCs. The purpose of the current study was to engage community members in rural Uganda in identifying challenges experienced by GMCs and explore the potential for a sustainable livelihood for this population. We used a community-engaged ethnographic methodology for our qualitative study, which was informed by the Sustainable Livelihood Framework. Themes emerged in two domains: GMC Challenges and Potential for Sustainable Livelihoods and Intervention Recommendations . The challenges experienced by GMCs are multifaceted as are the potential solutions. Our findings have the potential to inform community development interventions that support the livelihoods and well-being of GMCs in Uganda and similar settings. [ Research in Gerontological Nursing, 17 (1), 43–52.]