Reducing Violence against People Living with Dementia in Rural Lesotho: an Action Research Project

Many dementia sufferers in Lesotho, as elsewhere in Africa, are subjected to violence from community members and their families face rejection and social isolation. The aim of this study is to proffer solutions that will reduce this violence and rejection. An action research approach based on qualitative data from one rural area of Lesotho was undertaken. The study began with an exploration of the experiences of the families of dementia sufferers and the understanding of community members concerning the causes of dementia and their subsequent behaviour. Data was collected via interviews and focus group discussions in five rural communities. On the basis of the exploration, an intervention in the form of health education talks was planned and implemented and an evaluation of outcomes was carried out during the following 18 months. Community members regarded the erratic behaviour of sufferers as evidence of witchcraft, and this justified harsh treatment of dementia sufferers and a lack of support to their families. A key message of the health education talks was that dementia is a disease which afflicts many old people and encouraged community support for sufferers and their families. The main outcome was a change in community understanding of dementia and greater support for sufferers and their families. In this low-income rural context, basic health education talks seem to have been highly effective in reducing violence against dementia sufferers and their wider use seems warranted.