Health issues, religious practice and sleep quality among the elderly in Osun state

Sleep is a fundamental aspect of human life, essential for physical and mental restoration. However, sleep quality often declines with age, and retired elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbances due to a lot of challenges associated with this phase of human development. This study focuses on the influence of health issues and religious practice on sleep quality of the retired elderly in Osun State. Qualitative phenomenological research design was employed for this study, and the purposive sampling technique was used to select three local government areas which were Ife North, Ife East and Ife Central areas of Osun State. Three focused group discussions were conducted using sleep quality interview guide for data collection. Interview recordings and focused group discussion were transcribed and thematic analysis was used for data analysis using Atlas ti. The results of this study revealed that health issues and religious practices influenced sleep quality among the retired elderly participants. Health status, including anxiety, high blood pressure and diabetes were found to contribute to sleep quality. Religious practices are deeply embedded in the routines of elderly individuals, shaping their sleep patterns. The study concluded that health issues, and religious practice could affect the sleep quality of the elderly in Osun State. It was recommended that psychologists, policymakers and healthcare professionals should develop a targeted advocacy program that will address the need for good sleep quality among retired elderly.