Profiles of Ethiopian Centenarians: A Qualitative Inquiry

As global aging advances, the number of centenarians (people aged 100 and over) worldwide is greatly increasing. Most of what is known about centenarians comes from the Global North, and it is unclear which factors may contribute to the longevity of centenarians in impoverished, mostly rural areas of the Global South that sometimes lack basic amenities. Cultural differences in the profile, lifestyles, and needs of centenarians across Africa have yet to be documented. Using a case study design, this descriptive inquiry investigates the profiles of centenarians in Ethiopia including religion, marriage, education, occupation, income, and living arrangement. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with nine centenarians (1 woman, 8 men) and were analyzed using descriptive narrative analysis. Respondents were between age 100 and 108. All nine were adherents of Orthodox Christianity, had been married, and were great-grandparents. Their adult lives were marked by both residential and marital stability. The Ethiopian centenarians seemed to persevere through many losses and hardships with the help of strong community-based social networks. Unlike studies of centenarians in the Global North, most respondents were male and had strict religious upbringings. Understanding the unique profiles of centenarians in the Global South helps to inform research and practice with this growing population of the oldest-old.