The Financial Challenges of Parents of a Child with Autism in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Little is known about the financial challenges of autism. This study looks into the financial challenges faced by parents of a child living with autism in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Twelve in-depth interviews and four key informant interviews were held with the professionals in Joy and Nehemiah Autism Centers. The participants were selected via the convenience sampling method. The data were transcribed and analyzed through thematic data analysis. All the participants underlined that caring for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires extra cost, attention, and effort. Most of the participants complained about the financial burden in relation to the cost of fulfilling the basic needs (high cost of food and clothing), transportation, and medical expenses. The system has to proactively work to address the financial and other concerns of the parents. The service is limited and unsatisfactory compared to the need. On the service provision, the government should try and address the different unmet needs and challenges of these children and their parents by providing proper attention and financial support

The March of Scientific Knowledge in Social Work

In the Fall 2017 issue of Advances in Social Work we are pleased to present 15 manuscripts--12 empirical, three conceptual--written by authors hailing from 15 states, the District of Columbia, and four countries.  Seven papers address various aspects of social work education, including three on research issues, two on child welfare curriculum, one on macro social work, and one on combined public health/social work programs.  The remaining papers include three conceptual offerings and five empirical studies conducted in the field

Editorial

Social work is a diverse, growing, and dynamic profession with new areas of practice emerging all of the time. In the Fall 2018 issue of Advances in Social Work we are pleased to present 14 manuscripts--11 empirical, 3 conceptual--written by 38 authors from 13 states across the U.S., representing the East Coast (CT, FL, MA, NY), the Midwest (KY, IL, IN, MN), the West (CA, ID, OR) and the South (LA, MS). Three papers address cutting-edge issues relevant to social work research, five papers present innovations related to teaching, and seven papers present practice-related advancements. A diverse array of topics are addressed including public access to research, social work in libraries, young minority fathers, social work supervision, virtual teaching, resilience of MSW students, perinatal depression, text-based crisis counseling, gun safety, civic engagement, depression education for high schoolers, SBIRT implementation, evidence-based practice, and self-care among social workers. We are privileged to offer the contribution of these scholars and practitioners to advancing the knowledge base of the profession

Social Work Should Be More Proactive in Addressing the Need to Plan for End of Life

Few people engage in planning for life’s end and the prevalence of preparedness is particularly low in ethnic communities. As a profession, social work is well equipped to help increase planning for life’s end and the care people wish to receive. However, the profession cannot simply defer to those in hospice and palliative care settings to address this issue. There is a need for earlier and equitable access to death preparation, and social workers can be instrumental in helping to insure equal opportunities for proactive planning for death. The ways social work may become more proactive in assisting individuals and families to prepare for the end-of-life are discussed

Profiles of Ethiopian centenarians: A qualitative inquiry

As global aging advances, the number of centenarians worldwide is greatly increasing. Most of what is known about centenarians comes the Global North. It is not clear what factors contribute to longevity of centenarians in impoverished, mostly rural areas of Global South nations that still lack basic amenities. Cultural differences in the profile, lifestyles, and needs of centenarians in Africa have yet to be documented. Using a case study design, this descriptive inquiry investigated the profiles of centenarians in Ethiopia including religion, marriage, education, occupation, income, and living arrangement. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with nine centenarians (1 woman, 8 men) and were analyzed using descriptive narrative analysis. Respondents were between 100 and 108 years old. All nine were adherents of Orthodox Christianity, had been married, and were great-grandparents. Their adult lives were marked by both residential and marital stability. The Ethiopian centenarians persevered through many losses and hardships with the help of strong community-based social networks.. Unlike studies of centenarians in the Global North, most respondents were male and had strict religious upbringings. Understanding the unique profiles of centenarians in the Global South will help to inform research and practice with this growing population of the oldest-old

Death Attitudes Among Middle-Aged Koreans: Role of End-of-Life Care Planning and Death Experiences

The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting death attitudes among middle-aged Koreans. In addition, the study explored the interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death of family or friends on death attitudes. The sample was obtained from a national survey with middle-aged adults in South Korea (n = 2,026). Multivariate regression analysis revealed significant main effects and an interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death on death attitudes. Greater knowledge of end-of-life care planning was associated with more positive attitudes toward death; however, the effect was stronger for those who had not experienced the death of family or friends. Being older and having greater life satisfaction were also associated with more positive attitudes toward death. This study suggests that end-of-life education can help middle-aged adults embrace the final stage of life and prepare for their own death

"Homelessness and Health Problems Are Not Distinct:" the Challenges of Rural-Urban Migrant Homeless Older People in Ethiopia

Compared with western countries, research on homelessness among older people in developing nations is minimal. Unlike in Global North nations that offer income security in late-life, in areas like Sub-Saharan Africa abject poverty contributes to older adults migrating from rural areas to urban centers in search of a means of livelihood. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by homeless older rural-urban migrants in Kobo Town, Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study employed a qualitative descriptive case study. Purposive sampling was used to identify ten older adult migrants who had been homeless for more than a year. Data from in-depth interviews was supplemented with key informant interviews, observation, and document review. The narrative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Study results revealed that homeless elders faced multiple challenges including lack of necessities such as food, shelter, and water, mobility issues, lack of employment access, social exclusion, and psychological struggles. The findings call attention to the need for practical access to social and economic empowerment responses to prevent and curb homelessness among older adults in developing nations

Moving from Authoritarian to Allocative or Distributed Leadership, in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, as Adopted by a High School Principal A Case Study

Based on a long-standing centralized appointment process for principalship, Yogyakarta’s secondary school principals have typically taken an authoritarian approach to leadership, and this stance has persisted even amid Indonesia’s recent political modernization. To examine the recent emergence of an allocative approach, this case study documented the communication style, collegiality, and dispersed tasks by leadership of an SMA “Bintang” High School principal. We interviewed nine key school actors: namely, the principal, two vice principals, three teachers, two staff members, and the student union head. Eight themes benefit the overall school community amid collaborative communication and allocative task management used by the principal. His approach toward co-decision-making, dispersion of authority, and embracing of shared tasks is considered by staff to have enhanced academic achievement, school management, and student-based activities, and is more allocative yet inseparable from the bureaucracy. Such leadership represents a positive transition to implementation of more dispersed and communicative leadershi

‘Hunger would kill us instead of COVID-19’: Elders' response to the pandemic in Debre Markos Town, Ethiopia

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unpredictable challenges globally. Older adults are among the population groups most vulnerable to COVID-19. Poor urban elders in Ethiopia struggle to meet their basic needs due to waning traditional familial norms of providing care for elders as a result of urbanisation, poverty and migration. The aim of this study was to give voice to vulnerable elders during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ethiopia and to reveal their sources of support. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected from 27 elders aged 60 and above in Debre Markos Town, Ethiopia via in-depth interviews conducted from March–May 2020. To determine the nature of support provided for destitute elders, data were also gathered from two local officials. Narrative data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four prominent themes were identified: ‘Hunger would kill us instead of COVID-19,’ ‘Feeling hopeless and begging to die,’ ‘We prefer social support rather than food donations’ and ‘Gratitude.’ Elders considered the practice of social distancing to fight COVID-19 as an unwelcome luxury for people whose livelihood depends on begging and petty trade. The physical distancing programme put elders in isolation, diminishing their capacity to maintain their livelihood. Due to the increasing disrespectful attitudes towards aged people, elders felt even less valued than usual. Interactions were described as undermining, embarrassing and abusive. A special emergency fund and organised social supports are needed to minimise the effect of the pandemic on vulnerable groups like destitute elders in Ethiopia. Moreover, an institutional welfare response is needed to ensure elders can live a dignified life