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

ABSTRACT

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:

• Loss
• grief
• COVID-19
• families
• death
• mourning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Conceptualization, 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 information

Funding

Data 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 contributors

Marang K. Phuthegelo

Marang K. Phuthegelo is an independent researcher residing in Botswana. She graduated from the University of Botswana majoring in Sociology and Population Studies.

Gabriel Faimau

Gabriel 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.