Bleeding Bodies, Untrustworthy Bodies: A Social Constructionist Approach to Health and Wellbeing of Young People in Kenya

Attention to the needs of women and girls in WASH: An analysis of WASH policies in selected sub-Saharan African countries

There has been a push for understanding gendered violence in WASH in recent times. Attention is therefore shifting to how these issues are conceptualised, considering their embeddedness in context. One step primarily is to understand how existing policies in WASH acknowledge the needs of women and girls in WASH. In doing this, we conducted a summative content analysis of selected policy documents on WASH: five at the international level and five each from Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. Findings suggest that existing policies inadequately acknowledge WASH related gender-based violence and pay little attention to the complex ways gender and WASH relations are intimately connected. Generally, a holistic policy approach for addressing gender-based violence in WASH is needed. The paper recommends a system policy approach to address the unique needs of women and girls in WASH in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on Women's Health and Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A Case Study of Kenya

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) trap individuals in a cycle of poverty through their devastating effects on health, wellbeing and social–economic capabilities that extend to other axes of inequity such as gender and/or ethnicity. Despite NTDs being regarded as equity tracers, little attention has been paid toward gender dynamics and relationships for gender-equitable access to NTD programs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This paper examines the impact of NTDs on women’s health and wellbeing in SSA using Kenya as a case study. This research is part of a larger research program designed to examine the impact of NTDs on the health and wellbeing of populations in Kenya. Thematic analysis of key informants’ interviews (n = 21) and focus groups (n = 5) reveals first that NTDs disproportionately affect women and girls due to their assigned gender roles and responsibilities. Second, women face financial and time constraints when accessing health care due to diminished economic power and autonomy. Third, women suffer more from the related social consequences of NTDs (that is, stigma, discrimination and/or abandonment), which affects their health-seeking behavior. As such, we strongly suggest a gender lens when addressing NTD specific exposure, socio-economic inequities, and other gender dynamics that may hinder the successful delivery of NTD programs at the local and national levels.