Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study
Background: Social capital is a set of shared values that allows individuals or groups receive emotional, instrumental or financial resources flow. In Ethiopia, despite people commonly involved in social networks, there is a dearth of evidence exploring whether membership in these networks enhances...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94248 |
| _version_ | 1848765852668657664 |
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| author | Mengesha, E.W. Tessema, Gizachew Assefa, Y. Alene, G.D. |
| author_facet | Mengesha, E.W. Tessema, Gizachew Assefa, Y. Alene, G.D. |
| author_sort | Mengesha, E.W. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Social capital is a set of shared values that allows individuals or groups receive emotional, instrumental or financial resources flow. In Ethiopia, despite people commonly involved in social networks, there is a dearth of evidence exploring whether membership in these networks enhances uptake of maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study aimed to explore perspectives of women, religious leaders and community health workers (CHWs) on social capital to improve uptake of MCH services in Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: We employed a qualitative study through in-depth interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. A maximum variation purposive sampling technique was used to select 41 study participants (11 in-depth interviews and 4 FGDs comprising 7-8 participants). Data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was employed using ATLAS.ti software.
Results: Four overarching themes and 13 sub-themes of social capital were identified as factors that improve uptake of MCH services. The identified themes were social networking, social norms, community support, and community cohesion. Most women, CHWs and religious leaders participated in social networks. These social networks enabled CHWs to create awareness on MCH services. Women, religious leaders and CHWs perceived that existing social capital improves the uptake of MCH services.
Conclusion: The community has an indigenous culture of providing emotional, instrumental and social support to women through social networks. So, it would be useful to consider the social capital of family, neighborhood and community as a tool to improve utilization of MCH services. Therefore, policymakers should design people-centered health programs to engage existing social networks, and religious leaders for improving MCH services. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:41:50Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-94248 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-942482024-02-06T06:22:40Z Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study Mengesha, E.W. Tessema, Gizachew Assefa, Y. Alene, G.D. Child Pregnancy Humans Female Ethiopia Social Capital Qualitative Research Focus Groups Maternal-Child Health Services Maternal Health Services Humans Focus Groups Pregnancy Qualitative Research Child Maternal Health Services Ethiopia Female Social Capital Maternal-Child Health Services Background: Social capital is a set of shared values that allows individuals or groups receive emotional, instrumental or financial resources flow. In Ethiopia, despite people commonly involved in social networks, there is a dearth of evidence exploring whether membership in these networks enhances uptake of maternal and child health (MCH) services. This study aimed to explore perspectives of women, religious leaders and community health workers (CHWs) on social capital to improve uptake of MCH services in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: We employed a qualitative study through in-depth interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. A maximum variation purposive sampling technique was used to select 41 study participants (11 in-depth interviews and 4 FGDs comprising 7-8 participants). Data were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was employed using ATLAS.ti software. Results: Four overarching themes and 13 sub-themes of social capital were identified as factors that improve uptake of MCH services. The identified themes were social networking, social norms, community support, and community cohesion. Most women, CHWs and religious leaders participated in social networks. These social networks enabled CHWs to create awareness on MCH services. Women, religious leaders and CHWs perceived that existing social capital improves the uptake of MCH services. Conclusion: The community has an indigenous culture of providing emotional, instrumental and social support to women through social networks. So, it would be useful to consider the social capital of family, neighborhood and community as a tool to improve utilization of MCH services. Therefore, policymakers should design people-centered health programs to engage existing social networks, and religious leaders for improving MCH services. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94248 10.1371/journal.pone.0284592 eng http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Child Pregnancy Humans Female Ethiopia Social Capital Qualitative Research Focus Groups Maternal-Child Health Services Maternal Health Services Humans Focus Groups Pregnancy Qualitative Research Child Maternal Health Services Ethiopia Female Social Capital Maternal-Child Health Services Mengesha, E.W. Tessema, Gizachew Assefa, Y. Alene, G.D. Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title | Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title_full | Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title_short | Social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in Northwest Ethiopia: A qualitative study |
| title_sort | social capital and its role to improve maternal and child health services in northwest ethiopia: a qualitative study |
| topic | Child Pregnancy Humans Female Ethiopia Social Capital Qualitative Research Focus Groups Maternal-Child Health Services Maternal Health Services Humans Focus Groups Pregnancy Qualitative Research Child Maternal Health Services Ethiopia Female Social Capital Maternal-Child Health Services |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1195716 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/94248 |