A Study on the Effect of SHG Participation on Women's Health: Empirical Evidence from Kerala, India

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of SHG participation on women's health via social determinants of health. The study was conducted in the South Indian State of Kerala among the SHGs under the state driven Self Help Group programme named Kudumbashree. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. The study was focused on non elderly poor women i.e. women in the age group of 26 to 50 years, participating in SHGs formed under Kudumbashree Mission of Kerala. Population for the study was divided into two groups namely, women who were members for five years or more and women who were members for less than five years. Women who were members for five years or more were regarded as early joiners and women who were members for less than five years were regarded as late joiners.The study was done with twin objectives :a) To find out the association between the duration of participation in self help groups and the social determinants of health.(b)To analyze whether there is difference in health achievements between early joiners and late joiners in self help groups .It was concluded that SHGs influence the health of poor women via social determinants of health. By providing microcredit, SHGs extend access to credit to poor women in order to generate income. They can contribute immensely to improve the health of poor women through provision of financial support for health care, hygiene, opportunities for income generation and provision of social support. Participation in SHGs can help to ensure that poor women are able to adequately access health care, improve food habits and hygiene and there by improve their health.