ISSN (Online): 2321-3418
server-injected
Social Sciences and Humanities
Open Access

Drivers to Participation in SHGs and Changes in Household Livelihood Constructs: A Longitudinal Survey in Nyakach Sub-County, Kenya

DOI: 10.18535/ijsrm/v10i3.sh02· Pages: 975-987· Vol. 10, No. 03, (2022)· Published: March 6, 2022
PDF
Views: 456 PDF downloads: 199

Abstract

Poverty reduction and socio-economic challenges since 1990s attracted institutions named Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among communities. Literature abound linking SHGs with empowerment especially of women albeit with weak methodology and failure to measure changes in livelihood participation. Poverty level still increased in areas like Nyakach Sub-County where SHGs operate. Poverty level increased from 18% to 43% until 2019, representing 238% rise. The study purposed to establish how participation in SHGs changed constructs of household livelihoods in Nyakach Sub-County, Kenya. The study hypotheses tested; absence of significant difference in household food security before and after joining SHGs, absence of significant difference in household healthcare access before and after joining SHGs, and absence of significant difference in household social capabilities before and after joining SHGs. Using Symbolic Interactionism Theory a longitudinal survey design was applied on 9450 target population.  A sample of 384 provided data at two points before joining SHGs and after joining.  Mean values of the two periods were compared using z-statistics. Findings showed that through participation in SHGs, improvement in food security (M=3.60; SD=1.39) and improvement in social capabilities (M=3.53; SD=1.36) were highly changed. Improvement in healthcare access was slight (M=2.73 ; SD=1.04). A significant and positive improvement in livelihood constructs of the SHG members was observed thus rejection of the null hypotheses (H01 ; H02 and H03). Conclusively, participation in SHGs had significant potential of improving livelihood constructs of households. It is recommended that healthcare as a construct of livelihood should be institutionalised through SHGs for more community reach.

 

Keywords

Improvement in Food SecurityImprovement in Healthcare AccessImprovement in Social

References

  1. Aikaruwa, D.B., Sumari, G.A. and Maleko, G.N. (2014). Social Functionality of Self Help Groups in Tanzania. Journal of Business Administration and Education, 5 (2), 99-136.Google Scholar ↗
  2. Aksana, N., Kısaca, B., Aydına, M. and Demirbuken, S. (2009). Symbolic interaction theory. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 902–904.Google Scholar ↗
  3. Anand, P., Swati, S., Rolando, G., and Hai-Anh H. D. (2019). Can Women’s Self-Help Groups Contribute to Sustainable Development? Evidence of Capability Changes from Northern India. GLO Discussion Paper, No. 402, Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen.Google Scholar ↗
  4. Chitere, P.O. (2018). Self-help Groups as a means for development and welfare: Their characteristics, membership and performance in Kenya. International journal of social work and human services practice, 6 (2), 30-45.Google Scholar ↗
  5. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach. Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioral research (pp- 209- 240) Thousand Oaks, Calfornia: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar ↗
  6. Cronbach, L. J. (1970). “Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests”. Psychometrika, 22(3), 297-334.Google Scholar ↗
  7. Dong, X. (2008). Symbolic Interactionism in Sociology of Education Textbooks in Mainland China: Coverage, Perspective and Implications. International Education Studies, 1 (3), 14 – 20.Google Scholar ↗
  8. Frimpong, A and Mensah, R.O. (2020). Financial inclusion among rural households in Ghana. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 11 (4), 182 – 191.Google Scholar ↗
  9. Gay, L.R., Mills, G.E. and Airasian, P. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications 10th ed. Pearson Education, Inc.Google Scholar ↗
  10. Isaboke, P. K. N. (2017). Self-help groups agents of change in the present society. International Journal of Law, Humanities & Social Science, 1 (4), 65-76.Google Scholar ↗
  11. Israel, G. (2012). Determining Sample Size. EDIS Website. https://edis.ifas.ufl.eduGoogle Scholar ↗
  12. Kirori, G.N. (2015). Social capital as a strategy for promoting rural livelihoods: Case for Kenya. Progressive academic publishing Birmingham, United Kingdom.Google Scholar ↗
  13. Kumar, C. R. (2005). Research Methodology. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation.Google Scholar ↗
  14. Meena, M.S. and Singh, K.M. (2013). Changing behaviour of self-help group members: Pathway for sustainable rural livelihoods in Eastern India. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 83 (8), 847–51.Google Scholar ↗
  15. Mpofu, M., Tichakunda, H. and Phuti, F. (2019). Impact of self-help group projects on women’s livelihoods in a peri-urban settlement in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Humanities, Art and Social Studies, 4 (1), 37 – 42.Google Scholar ↗
  16. Mushumbusi, P. K. and Kratzer, J. (2013). Empowering women through microfinance: Evidence from Tanzania. ACRN Journal of Entrepreneurship Perspectives, 2 (1), 31-59.Google Scholar ↗
  17. Nickel, S., Trojan, A. and Kofahl, C. (2016). Involving self-help groups in health-care institutions: The patients’ contribution to and their view of ‘self-help friendliness’ as an approach to implement quality criteria of sustainable co-operation. Health Expectations, 20, 274–287Google Scholar ↗
  18. Nithyanandhana, S.H. and Mansor, N. (2015). Self Help Groups and Women’s Empowerment. Institutions and Economies: at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283026425.Google Scholar ↗
  19. Nunnaly, J.C. (1978) Psychometric Theory (2nd ed) New York : McGraw-HillGoogle Scholar ↗
  20. Olarinde, L.O., Abass, A.B., Abdoulaye, T., Adepoju, A.A., Adio, M.O., Fanifosi, G.E. and Wasiu, A. (2020). The Influence of Social Networking on Food Security Status of Cassava Farming Households in Nigeria. Sustainability, 12 (5420); doi: 10.3390/su12135420.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  21. Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar ↗
  22. Raghunathan, K. (2018). Women's self-help groups, decision-making, and improved agricultural practices in India. 20TH International Conference on Agricultural Economists, July 28 August 2, Vancouver.Google Scholar ↗
  23. Rahman, S. and Akter, S. (2014). Determinants of livelihood choices: an empirical analysis from rural Bangladesh. Journal of South Asian Development, 9(3), 287-308.Google Scholar ↗
  24. Redmond, M. V., (2015). Symbolic Interactionism. English Technical Reports and White Papers. 4. http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/engl_reports/4Google Scholar ↗
  25. Republic of Kenya (2010). Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, 2013-2018. Nairobi: Central Bureau of Statistics.Google Scholar ↗
  26. Republic of Kenya (2013). Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, 2013-2018. Nairobi: Central Bureau of StatisticsGoogle Scholar ↗
  27. Republic of Kenya (2015). Kisumu County Gender, Youth and Social Development Registry: Nyakach Sub County, 2013-2018. Nairobi: Central Bureau of StatisticsGoogle Scholar ↗
  28. Republic of Kenya (2019). Nyakach District Development Plan. Nairobi: Central Bureau of StatisticsGoogle Scholar ↗
  29. Saggurti, N., Atmavilas, Y., Porwal, A., Schooley, J., Das, R., Kande, N., et al. (2018). Effect of health intervention integration within women's self-help groups on collectivization and healthy practices around reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health in rural India. PLoS ONE 13(8): e0202562. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202562.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  30. Saha, S., Annear, P.L. and Pathak, S. (2013). The effect of Self-Help Groups on access to maternal health services: evidence from rural India. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12 (36), http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/12/1/36.Google Scholar ↗
  31. Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2007). Research Methods for Business Students 4th Ed. Prentice Hall, Pearson Education Ltd.Google Scholar ↗
  32. Scoones, I. (2009). Livelihoods perspectives and rural development. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 36, 171-196.Google Scholar ↗
  33. Wanjala, E. W. (2012). The contribution of self-help groups to household food security in Kakamega central District, Kenya. Unpublished project submitted to Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.Google Scholar ↗
  34. Yamane, T. (1967): Statistics: An Introductory Analysis. Second Edition. New York: Harper and RowGoogle Scholar ↗
Author details
Paul Okello Atieno
Kisii University
✉ Corresponding Author
ORCID ↗
👤 View Profile →