Family narratives of loss and grief during the Covid-19 pandemic in Botswana

Bibliographic Data

ID15081997
AuthorsGabriel Faimau (0000-0001-8177-3520, Independent Researcher, Gaborone, Botswana, corresponding author), Marang Katlego Phuthegelo
Year2024
Volume29
Issue4
Pages833-848
Publication date2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMortality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1357-6275 • E-ISSN: 1469-9885
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13576275.2023.2248020
OpenAlexW4386074111
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited33

This study explores and documents the processes of loss and grief among families who have lost relatives due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Gaborone city, Botswana. In-person and online in-depth interviews were used to collect data from 15 families and a key informant, selected using the non-probability technique of purposive sampling. Participant observation was also used as a method of data collection. We discovered that dealing with the processes of loss and grief has been restructured due to the pandemic, as there was limited to no interaction with the general public on the one hand, and funerals were short and less crowded on the other. Consequently, these changes have affected the aftermath as well as the mourning process of the concerned families. In addition, the study revealed that the concerned families and households were negatively affected by the untimely passing of their relative, and the short mourning days made it even harder for them to say goodbye properly. For remaining family members, it was difficult to grieve due to the lack of support from extended family members who were also affected by the pandemic. As they felt left out, the experience seems to have perpetuated mental health problems. Given the significance of COVID-19 in the history of humankind, documenting the experience of loss and grief in times of pandemic is a necessity, as it highlights various socio-cultural responses to the death of family members.KEYWORDS: LossgriefCOVID-19familiesdeathmourning Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Author contributionsConceptualization, MP and GF; methodology, MP and GF; data collection, MP; supervision and data validation, GF; formal analysis, MP and GF.; writing – original draft preparation, MP; writing – final analysis, review and editing, GF. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Additional informationFundingData collection for this research was funded by the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF), Government of Botswana. The second author received funding from the Global Centre of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability (GCSMUS) for the writing process of the article.Notes on contributorsMarang K. PhuthegeloMarang K. Phuthegelo is an independent researcher residing in Botswana. She graduated from the University of Botswana majoring in Sociology and Population Studies.Gabriel FaimauGabriel Faimau is Associate Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology, University of Botswana. He is also Extraordinary Researcher at the Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society, North-West University, South Africa

Art · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Data collection · Disease · Family member · Genealogy · Grief · Mental health · Narrative · Nonprobability sampling · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Social science · Sociology · Demography · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · History · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Social Psychology