Power Relations and Maasai Women’s Access to Social Health Security in Kajiado West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Health is a human right and over the years, national governments have invested heavily to provide citizens with quality, accessible, and affordable health care. Although some aspects of women’s health have improved, there are still important unmet needs. The Maasai community has a patriarchal social structure, where men hold positions of power and authority. Women often have limited decision-making power and may face barriers to accessing healthcare independently. The study examined the effect of power relations on Maasai women’s access to social health security in Kajiado West Sub-County,Kenya. The study employed a mixed-method sequential explanatory design. The target population were Maasai women of Kajiado West Sub County. The sample size was 398, according to the Yamane formula. Questionnaires, interview guides and Focus Group Discussions were used in data collection. The study found a significant negative relationship between power differences and women’s social security for health in Kajiado West Sub-County. In the Maasai community men are in command of family leadership and women obey decisions made by their husbands without questioning. Accessibility to health services is challenging for women since they have to walk far to access health services. The majority of the women are aware of the Linda Mama package and the National Health Insurance Fund national scheme package. The study recommends that there is a need for the government and international and nongovernmental organisations to promote gender equality to address the patriarchy and power relation disparities. There is a need for sensitisation on the rights of women, especially about health.