Health Status of Widows as a Correlate of Their Participation in Community Development Projects in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to examine the health status of widows and investigate its effect on their participation in community development projects.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the widows and non-widows in six communities out of the 18 communities in Nsukka local government area of Enugu state, Nigeria from 15 January to 29 March 2019. The respondents were tested clinically based on the following health indices; blood pressure, blood sugar level, malaria parasite and typhoid. The widows were also asked the extent to which their health conditions affect their participation in community development projects.

RESULTS: The mean blood pressure level of the widows is 160.2100.4Mm/Hg while their mean blood sugar level is 129.8 Mg/dl. 55% of the widows tested positive to typhoid while another 53% tested positive to malaria parasite. Majority (72%) of the widows revealed that health condition such as poor eye sight; arthritis; rheumatism; high blood pressure; diabetes; malaria; typhoid; cough and ulcer limit their participation in community development projects.

CONCLUSIONS: The widows in Nsukka have a poor health status when compared to the non-widows in the region, which to a great extent, limits their participation in the community development projects available to them. Therefore, there is a very strong correlation between the health status of widows in Nsukka and their participation in the community development projects.