Older Adults’ Narratives of Self-Care Using Steam Inhalation During COVID-19 Pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Background: Self-care is an important concept in public health. As there is no cure for COVID-19, symptomatic treatment is encouraged. South Africans have been practicing self-care using steam inhalation as an indigenous health practice to successfully treat respiratory infections. Older adults are vulnerable to COVID-19 but are also indigenous health knowledge holders. The study examines the use of steam inhalation as self-care practice during COVID-19 by older adults. Methods: This qualitative study used secondary qualitative data from 87 interviews with 26 older adults. Ten transcripts met the inclusion criteria and were analysed thematically. Results: Four themes and eight subthemes emerged revealing older adults of 61-75 years asserting their self-care practice of steaming with herbs, encouraging their families to steam, continuing with their chronic medications and getting relieve from respiratory symptoms. They shared their believes in steam inhalation as an acceptable self-care practice to promote health and well-being. Conclusions: Older adults are indigenous knowledge holders who use steam inhalation as self-care practice to promote health and well-being. Steaming is acceptable self-care practice which should promoted.