The intersection of food insecurity and health for rural Malawian women at the end of life.

Journal: International journal of palliative nursing

Volume: 26

Issue: 7

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of isconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, US. Research Assistant, Institute for Food, Nutrition and Wellbeing, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Registered Dietitian, Never Ending Food, Lilongwe, Malawi. Peninna Project Coordinator, Future Africa, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. Associate Professor, Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, US. Assistant Professor, College of Allied Health and Nursing, Minnesota State University, Mankato, US. PhD Student, College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, US. Founder and Coordinator, K Tigwirane Manja AIDS Support Organization (KTASO), Kasungu, Malawi. Founder and Doctor, Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala, Uganda. Founder and Nurse, Ndi Moyo Palliative Care Centre, Salima, Malawi. Director and Professor, Center for Advancing Population Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, US.

Abstract summary 

One of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi's palliative care system is under-resourced, and one-third of the population is food-insecure.This study describes the lived experience of female palliative care patients, and their caregivers, and aimed to: (1) analyse their physical, spiritual and mental health needs; and (2) analyse best palliative nursing practice for patients at the end of life. An unexpected finding was the impact of food insecurity on the women and their caregivers.We conducted interviews with 26 women who at the end of life and 14 of their caregivers. All were participating in a community palliative care programme offered by an AIDS support organisation in Kasungu, Malawi. We used deductive qualitative analysis to organise identified themes using the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilisation and stability.All study participants experienced challenges with food security.We offer policy recommendations for palliative care nurses, and other allied health professionals.

Authors & Co-authors:  Dressel Anne A Mkandawire Elizabeth E Gondwe Kaboni Whitney KW Mkandawire-Valhmu Lucy L Nordin Stacia S Vilakazi Nokuthula N Scheer Victoria V Kako Peninnah P Ngui Emmanuel E Neiman Tammy T Ruiz Ashley A Luebke Jeneile J Minjale Peter P Merriman Anne A Finch Lucy Kishindo LK Egede Leonard L

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  16
Identifiers
Doi : 10.12968/ijpn.2020.26.7.372
SSN : 2052-286X
Study Population
Women,Female
Mesh Terms
Caregivers
Other Terms
End-of-life care;Food insecurity;Malawi;Nutrition;Palliative nursing
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative
Country of Study
Publication Country
England