“If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya

The links between lack of access to WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) and adverse health outcomes is well documented. There is a recent nascent literature on the links between water security and gender-based violence (GBV) that is relatively sparse; this is surprising given firstly that the global w...

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Main Authors: Ednah N Ototo, Diana S Karanja, Susan J Elliott
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Wellbeing, Space and Society
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558124000484
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author Ednah N Ototo
Diana S Karanja
Susan J Elliott
author_facet Ednah N Ototo
Diana S Karanja
Susan J Elliott
author_sort Ednah N Ototo
collection DOAJ
description The links between lack of access to WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) and adverse health outcomes is well documented. There is a recent nascent literature on the links between water security and gender-based violence (GBV) that is relatively sparse; this is surprising given firstly that the global water issue is quintessentially a gendered one and secondly that we know this to be a major issue for women particularly in Sub Saharan Africa. This paper reports on the lived experiences of seniors through oral histories (n = 25) with a particular focus on WASH and gender-based violence using Kisian, Kenya as a case study. Results reveal concerns due to inadequate access to safe water and sanitation facilities and also perceptions of structural gender-based violence where participants reported feeling marginalized by government due to lack of supply of clean piped water. The results also reveal that women are excluded from water governance. In conclusion, gender mainstreaming in water resource management and financial support for gender equity should be adopted by all relevant actors in the WASH sector, particularly given our learnings from the COVID 19 pandemic.
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spelling doaj-art-dcf8dd48bf4f4c0ea9cf6a7fc74b3e8f2024-12-18T08:53:21ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812024-12-017100230“If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in KenyaEdnah N Ototo0Diana S Karanja1Susan J Elliott2Community Health Support Programme, P.O Box 872-40100, Kisumu, Kenya; University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2 L 3G1, Canada; Corresponding author.Community Health Support Programme, P.O Box 872-40100, Kisumu, KenyaUniversity of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2 L 3G1, CanadaThe links between lack of access to WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) and adverse health outcomes is well documented. There is a recent nascent literature on the links between water security and gender-based violence (GBV) that is relatively sparse; this is surprising given firstly that the global water issue is quintessentially a gendered one and secondly that we know this to be a major issue for women particularly in Sub Saharan Africa. This paper reports on the lived experiences of seniors through oral histories (n = 25) with a particular focus on WASH and gender-based violence using Kisian, Kenya as a case study. Results reveal concerns due to inadequate access to safe water and sanitation facilities and also perceptions of structural gender-based violence where participants reported feeling marginalized by government due to lack of supply of clean piped water. The results also reveal that women are excluded from water governance. In conclusion, gender mainstreaming in water resource management and financial support for gender equity should be adopted by all relevant actors in the WASH sector, particularly given our learnings from the COVID 19 pandemic.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558124000484Water securityGender-based violenceWellbeingSub saharan AfricaOral histories
spellingShingle Ednah N Ototo
Diana S Karanja
Susan J Elliott
“If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
Wellbeing, Space and Society
Water security
Gender-based violence
Wellbeing
Sub saharan Africa
Oral histories
title “If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
title_full “If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
title_fullStr “If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed “If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
title_short “If I was in charge”: A qualitative investigation of water security, gender-based violence and wellbeing in Kenya
title_sort if i was in charge a qualitative investigation of water security gender based violence and wellbeing in kenya
topic Water security
Gender-based violence
Wellbeing
Sub saharan Africa
Oral histories
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558124000484
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AT susanjelliott ifiwasinchargeaqualitativeinvestigationofwatersecuritygenderbasedviolenceandwellbeinginkenya