Aged Return Migrants and the Challenges of Reintegration in Rural Nigeria: Implications for Social Work Practice

Aloysius Odii, C. Atama, U. Agbawodikeizu, I. Igwe
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Abstract

This study examined the reintegration challenges encountered by aged migrants who returned from urban to rural areas in Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria. Qualitative research method and the phenomenological approach was used. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 20 aged returnees, and the data was analysed thematically. Findings revealed that the participants returned from six major cities in Nigeria and had spent an average of 25 years in their host communities before the decision to return. They returned because they could no longer cope with the city life. Health challenges, low economic base and poor infrastructure in rural areas made adjusting to life difficult and was compounded by high expectations and poor treatment from community members. However, aged returnees who coped better with these challenges were those who had access to informal care and financial support. While informal care is acknowledged as an important coping mechanism, social workers could provide enduring support to help aged returnees cope better. The study recommends that social workers create robust community-based supports such as localised skill acquisition, education, counselling, connections with institutions and community resources, and advocacy to help aged returnees adjust to rural life. Programmes that bridge the gap between the youth and the returnees may be instituted to improving cross-generation learning and understanding. These findings may be useful to other countries in similar contexts.
老年回返移民和尼日利亚农村重新融入社会的挑战:对社会工作实践的影响
本研究调查了尼日利亚东南部埃努古从城市返回农村地区的老年移民所遇到的重新融入社会的挑战。采用定性研究方法和现象学研究方法。对20名年龄较大的回返者进行了深入访谈,并对数据进行了专题分析。调查结果显示,参与者从尼日利亚的六个主要城市返回,在决定返回之前,他们在东道国平均生活了25年。他们回来了,因为他们无法再适应城市生活。农村地区的健康挑战、低经济基础和差基础设施使适应生活变得困难,社区成员的高期望和差待遇使情况更加复杂。然而,能够更好地应对这些挑战的老年回返者是那些能够获得非正式照料和财政支持的人。虽然非正式照顾被认为是一种重要的应对机制,但社会工作者可以提供持久的支持,帮助老年回返者更好地应对。该研究建议社会工作者建立强有力的基于社区的支持,如本地化技能获取、教育、咨询、与机构和社区资源的联系,以及倡导帮助老年回返者适应农村生活。可以制订缩小青年和回返者之间差距的方案,以改善代际学习和了解。这些发现可能对处于类似情况的其他国家有用。
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