An exploration of experiences of elderly women caring for non-biological children without a statutory mandate: Mnquma Local Municipality, Eastern Cape.

Abstract

In many African cultures, childrearing is a collective responsibility. Extended family members, particularly elderly women, have traditionally played a significant role in nurturing and raising children. This practice is deeply rooted in African values like Ubuntu, which emphasizes interconnectedness, compassion, and collective well-being. Rapid urbanization, poverty, HIV/AIDS, and other social challenges have disrupted traditional family structures. This has resulted in an increase in the number of children who require alternative care arrangements. Guided by the Ubuntu and resilience theories, this qualitative study explores the experiences of elderly African women in the Mnquma Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, who are caring for non-biological children without a statutory mandate. The research investigates the motivations, challenges, and support systems utilized by these elderly African women and establishes the recommendations that they attach to address their challenges. The study employed an interpretivist paradigm and thematic analysis to analyse the data that was collected through semi-structured interviews with women aged 60–80 years. Findings reveal that cultural values, community-driven caregiving, and a sense of moral obligation drive their commitment despite significant socio-economic and health-related challenges. The research highlights the urgent need for policy recognition, inclusion, and support for informal care systems to improve the well-being of both elderly African women and children. These insights contribute to the broader discourse on indigenous caregiving practices, offering culturally sensitive recommendations for social work and policy reforms. By understanding the experiences of these elderly African women, implicated parties can develop more effective and culturally sensitive interventions to support the well-being of both non-biological children and the elderly in African communities. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and two sampling methods: purposive and snowball sampling.