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

Plain language summary Few studies have asked nomadic women in Kenya to name the important individuals in their lives when it comes to making reproductive and sexual health decisions, including their use of family planning. These important individuals are described as a woman’s “network”. We used a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: 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
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-05-01
Series:Reproductive Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01164-1
Description
Summary:Plain language summary Few studies have asked nomadic women in Kenya to name the important individuals in their lives when it comes to making reproductive and sexual health decisions, including their use of family planning. These important individuals are described as a woman’s “network”. We used a survey and open-ended interview format to identify the individuals in four nomadic women’s networks (“social network analysis”). Data was analysed in R and we created a visual map of these networks. Women named 10–12 individuals. Women’s husbands made reproductive health decisions and did not approve of modern family planning use. Apart from their husbands, women did not know who in their network approved of their use of family planning. Female neighbors and mothers provided important support to women. Interventions to increase awareness of modern FP should engage with everyone in a woman’s network.
ISSN:1742-4755