Effects of widowhood rites on the psychological distress and life satisfaction of Konkomba widows in the Saboba District, Northern Ghana.

Abstract

The study investigated the effects of widowhood rites on the psychological distress and satisfaction with life of Konkomba widows in the Saboba District of the Northern region of Ghana. Specifically, the study assessed the common widowhood rite practices and the extent to which it impact the psychological distress and the satisfaction with life of widows. The descriptive cross- sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The purposive sampling technique, stratified sampling technique, snowball sampling technique and convenience sampling techniques were used to select 120 widows from the Saboba District. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions, means and standard deviations, regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal Wallis H-Test. Findings indicated that Konkomba windows who underwent widowhood rites experienced high levels of psychological distress and low life satisfaction. Also, psychological distress of widows significantly predicted their life satisfaction. It was also realized from the study that widowhood rites by the Konkomba tribe are dehumanizing and gruesome. Generally, it is recommended that government institutions, NGOs and health practitioners should incorporate a more comprehensive approach where the attention is not only on the physical needs of widows but also their psychological and social wellbeing which are also affected. This will optimize the services and aids widows receive. Also, the government and other stake holders should intensify their campaign on the reformation or abolishment of these horrible practices of widowhood.