Reproductive health decision making among nomadic pastoralists in North Eastern Kenya: a qualitative social network analysis

Leah Kenny; Rahma Hassan; Loraine J. Bacchus; Matthew Smith; Bettina Shell-Duncan; Nana Apenem Dagadu; Angela Muriuki; Abdullahi Hussein Aden; Ibrahim Abdirizak Jelle; Beniamino Cislaghi; Mazeda Hossain

doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1

Reproductive health decision making among nomadic pastoralists in North Eastern Kenya: a qualitative social network analysis

Leah Kenny^*, Rahma Hassan, Loraine J. Bacchus, Matthew Smith, Bettina Shell-Duncan, Nana Apenem Dagadu, Angela Muriuki, Abdullahi Hussein Aden, Ibrahim Abdirizak Jelle, Beniamino Cislaghi, Mazeda Hossain

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Social Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

14 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
To our knowledge, no studies exist on the influence of nomadic pastoralist women’s networks on their reproductive and sexual health (RSH), including uptake of modern family planning (FP).

Methods
Using name generator questions, we carried out qualitative egocentric social network analysis (SNA) to explore the networks of four women. Networks were analyzed in R, visuals created in Visone and a framework approach used for the qualitative data.

Results
Women named 10–12 individuals. Husbands were key in RSH decisions and never supported modern FP use. Women were unsure who supported their use of modern FP and we found evidence for a norm against it within their networks.

Conclusions
Egocentric SNA proves valuable to exploring RSH reference groups, particularly where there exists little prior research. Pastoralist women’s networks likely change as a result of migration and conflict; however, husbands make RSH decisions and mothers and female neighbors provide key support in broader RSH issues. Interventions to increase awareness of modern FP should engage with women’s wider networks.

Original language	English
Article number	108
Journal	Reproductive Health
Volume	18
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1
Publication status	Published - 26 May 2021

Keywords

Family planning
Nomadic pastoralist
Reproductive health
Social network
Social norms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Reproductive Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Access to Document

10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1Licence: CC BY

Download pdfFinal published version, 1.98 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{c1186a699cb24825b14540814ff3beae,

title = "Reproductive health decision making among nomadic pastoralists in North Eastern Kenya: a qualitative social network analysis",

abstract = "BackgroundTo our knowledge, no studies exist on the influence of nomadic pastoralist women{\textquoteright}s networks on their reproductive and sexual health (RSH), including uptake of modern family planning (FP).MethodsUsing name generator questions, we carried out qualitative egocentric social network analysis (SNA) to explore the networks of four women. Networks were analyzed in R, visuals created in Visone and a framework approach used for the qualitative data.ResultsWomen named 10–12 individuals. Husbands were key in RSH decisions and never supported modern FP use. Women were unsure who supported their use of modern FP and we found evidence for a norm against it within their networks.ConclusionsEgocentric SNA proves valuable to exploring RSH reference groups, particularly where there exists little prior research. Pastoralist women{\textquoteright}s networks likely change as a result of migration and conflict; however, husbands make RSH decisions and mothers and female neighbors provide key support in broader RSH issues. Interventions to increase awareness of modern FP should engage with women{\textquoteright}s wider networks.",

keywords = "Family planning, Nomadic pastoralist, Reproductive health, Social network, Social norms",

author = "Leah Kenny and Rahma Hassan and Bacchus, {Loraine J.} and Matthew Smith and Bettina Shell-Duncan and Dagadu, {Nana Apenem} and Angela Muriuki and Aden, {Abdullahi Hussein} and Jelle, {Ibrahim Abdirizak} and Beniamino Cislaghi and Mazeda Hossain",

note = "Funding Information: This article is an output from the Nomadic Health Project which is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. However, the views expressed, and information contained in this article are not necessarily those of or endorsed by Bill and Melinda Gates Found and do not necessarily reflect their official polices. Additional funding was received from the GCRF GJS Hub to support writing up the results. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

journal = "Reproductive Health",

issn = "1742-4755",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Reproductive health decision making among nomadic pastoralists in North Eastern Kenya

T2 - a qualitative social network analysis

AU - Kenny, Leah

AU - Hassan, Rahma

AU - Bacchus, Loraine J.

AU - Smith, Matthew

AU - Shell-Duncan, Bettina

AU - Dagadu, Nana Apenem

AU - Muriuki, Angela

AU - Aden, Abdullahi Hussein

AU - Jelle, Ibrahim Abdirizak

AU - Cislaghi, Beniamino

AU - Hossain, Mazeda

N1 - Funding Information: This article is an output from the Nomadic Health Project which is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. However, the views expressed, and information contained in this article are not necessarily those of or endorsed by Bill and Melinda Gates Found and do not necessarily reflect their official polices. Additional funding was received from the GCRF GJS Hub to support writing up the results. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/5/26

Y1 - 2021/5/26

N2 - BackgroundTo our knowledge, no studies exist on the influence of nomadic pastoralist women’s networks on their reproductive and sexual health (RSH), including uptake of modern family planning (FP).MethodsUsing name generator questions, we carried out qualitative egocentric social network analysis (SNA) to explore the networks of four women. Networks were analyzed in R, visuals created in Visone and a framework approach used for the qualitative data.ResultsWomen named 10–12 individuals. Husbands were key in RSH decisions and never supported modern FP use. Women were unsure who supported their use of modern FP and we found evidence for a norm against it within their networks.ConclusionsEgocentric SNA proves valuable to exploring RSH reference groups, particularly where there exists little prior research. Pastoralist women’s networks likely change as a result of migration and conflict; however, husbands make RSH decisions and mothers and female neighbors provide key support in broader RSH issues. Interventions to increase awareness of modern FP should engage with women’s wider networks.

AB - BackgroundTo our knowledge, no studies exist on the influence of nomadic pastoralist women’s networks on their reproductive and sexual health (RSH), including uptake of modern family planning (FP).MethodsUsing name generator questions, we carried out qualitative egocentric social network analysis (SNA) to explore the networks of four women. Networks were analyzed in R, visuals created in Visone and a framework approach used for the qualitative data.ResultsWomen named 10–12 individuals. Husbands were key in RSH decisions and never supported modern FP use. Women were unsure who supported their use of modern FP and we found evidence for a norm against it within their networks.ConclusionsEgocentric SNA proves valuable to exploring RSH reference groups, particularly where there exists little prior research. Pastoralist women’s networks likely change as a result of migration and conflict; however, husbands make RSH decisions and mothers and female neighbors provide key support in broader RSH issues. Interventions to increase awareness of modern FP should engage with women’s wider networks.

KW - Family planning

KW - Nomadic pastoralist

KW - Reproductive health

KW - Social network

KW - Social norms

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106963297&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1

DO - 10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1

M3 - Article

C2 - 34039368

AN - SCOPUS:85106963297

SN - 1742-4755

VL - 18

JO - Reproductive Health

JF - Reproductive Health

M1 - 108

ER -

Reproductive health decision making among nomadic pastoralists in North Eastern Kenya: a qualitative social network analysis

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this