Analele Universităţii din Oradea: Seria Geografie (Feb 2017)
MOBILITY AS DETERMINANT OF QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE ELDERLY IN THE RURAL SOUTH - WESTERN, NIGERIA
Abstract
Over the years, researchers have provided evidences of varying degrees on mobility as a determinant factor of quality of life of the elderly in the rural areas in different parts of world. In Nigeria, mobility of the elderly in rural areas as one determinant of their life remains under researched. This study therefore examined mobility as a determinant of quality of life of the elderly in the rural areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Data were collected through multistage procedures in 27 randomly selected rural settlements while a total of 795 questionnaires were administered on elderly in the study area. Nigeria. Data collected were analyzed, using descriptive statistics and Chi square techniques. The results indicated that there exists varying degree of socio- economic and mobility characteristics of the respondents - mobility and quality of life of the elderly, total trip and quality of life as well as rating of waiting time for means of transport and quality of life of the rural elderly. Findings showed that a larger percentage (83.8%) of the sampled respondents did not own any personal means of movement or transport both male and female from the rural area of Ondo State. However, there were general poor ratings of quality of life in relation to their mobility, 24.34% and 25.45% of the sampled elderly in both the hinterland and at the coastal region rated their quality of life very bad, and 42.91% (hinterland) and 53.13% (coastal areas) rated it bad. Similarly, no significant difference was found in the seven categories of waiting time among the hinterland communities (χ2= 27.08, p > 0.05) and coastal communities (χ2 = 20.84, p > 0.05). However, the general view was that the waiting time at road sides or stops for vehicles was considered as having negative impact on the quality of life of the elderly.
