วิถีชีวิตของผู้สูงอายุหญิงที่เลี้ยงหลานในเขตชนบทภาคเหนือของประเทศไทย

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The qualitative study aimed to study the way of life of elderly female who took care of the grandchild in rural area of the Northern Thailand on issues relating to their self health care, daily activity, obstacle, and happiness in grandchild rearing including the expectation to the children, family, and community. Data were collected by in-dept interview from April to July, 2009. The samples were 26 elderly females who took care their 1-8 years old grandchildren and living in rural area of the Northern Thailand, selected by purposive sampling. Data were analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that all 26 elderly females were healthy and were able to perform daily living and rearing kids properly. Most of them concerned much about self health promoting particularly about diet and exercise. Elderly took care kids under 3 years were usually spent most of the time for caring about eating, sleeping, and playing of the children. The major problems in rearing grandchild were the caring expenditure and child’s illness. All elderly were happy to rear the children particularly for those with 1-3 years old grandchildren or the first descendant of the family. Almost all of the elderly expected their children to be good, intelligent, getting good job, life stability, and having warm family by living together of all family members. The study suggested that the local organization should take part in organizing the community activities and social welfare for the elderly with more coverage and generalized.

Key words: way of life elderly female grandchild rearing problem expectation of child