Coping strategies of widows : a study of Ddwaniro Sub-County, Kiboga District

Abstract

The study was set to identify the coping strategies of widows in Ddwaniro Sub­ County, Kiboga District, Uganda. The specific objectives of this study were to identify factors that bring about widowhood; institutional structures established for widow related support; the activities that widow engage in to earn a living; and to make recommendations for possible solutions to improve on widows' coping strategies. The study adopted a descriptive cross- sectional design in order to enable the researcher describe in detail what the study population considered to be the coping strategies of widows. Purposive sampling in particular was used to select the sample of the respondents; snowball was also used in triangulation with purposive sampling. The study identified the coping strategies of widows to include: engaging 10 economic activities and joining voluntary organizations that provide counseling and support to their children. Such activities enable them provide basic necessities to their families hence coping with some of their challenges. Alternative courses of action in improving widows' wellbeing were suggested and these include forming widows' association, promoting Functional Adult Literacy (FAL), providing them with agricultural inputs and offering them credit facilities with affordable interest rates. The above alternatives imply sensitizing, capacity building and empowering widows.