Socio-Economic Challenges, Support Systems and Coping Strategies of Older Widowed Women in Rural Zimbabwe: Towards an Integrated Community Support Framework
Abstract
Older widowed women in rural Zimbabwe experience multiple and interconnected socio-economic challenges that threaten their wellbeing, dignity, and quality of life. Despite the existence of social protection policies and community support initiatives, many continue to face persistent poverty, food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, social isolation, and inadequate institutional support. This study explored the socio-economic challenges experienced by older widowed women in rural Zimbabwe, examined the formal and informal support systems available to them, and analyzed the coping strategies they employ to sustain their livelihoods. The study further proposes an Integrated Community Support Framework to strengthen coordinated responses to the needs of older widowed women in rural communities. Guided by Ecological Systems Theory, the study adopted a qualitative case study design within an interpretivist paradigm. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions involving older widowed women and relevant community stakeholders in Chiwarira Village, Nyanga North District. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that participants experienced severe socio-economic challenges, including financial insecurity, food shortages, poor access to healthcare, social exclusion, and increased caregiving responsibilities. Existing support systems were fragmented, inconsistent, and often inadequate to meet participants' long-term needs. In response, older widowed women adopted diverse coping strategies, including subsistence farming, informal income-generating activities, religious participation, and mutual aid initiatives. These findings informed the development of an ICS Framework, which emphasizes coordinated institutional support, strengthened community participation, sustainable livelihoods, and responsive social protection.
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