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“No peace in my heart”: Exploring psychosocial problems experienced by women in relation to water insecurity and inadequate sanitation in an informal settlement, Kenya

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  • Kimutai, Joan J.
  • Lund, Crick
  • Moturi, Wilkister N.
  • Shewangizaw, Seble
  • Hanlon, Charlotte

Abstract

Social determinants of mental health are recognized as significant contributors to the disproportionate burden of depression and anxiety experienced by women worldwide.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimutai, Joan J. & Lund, Crick & Moturi, Wilkister N. & Shewangizaw, Seble & Hanlon, Charlotte, 2025. "“No peace in my heart”: Exploring psychosocial problems experienced by women in relation to water insecurity and inadequate sanitation in an informal settlement, Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 376(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:376:y:2025:i:c:s0277953625004484
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Workman, Cassandra L. & Ureksoy, Heather, 2017. "Water insecurity in a syndemic context: Understanding the psycho-emotional stress of water insecurity in Lesotho, Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 52-60.
    2. Achore, Meshack & Bisung, Elijah, 2022. "Experiences of inequalities in access to safe water and psycho-emotional distress in Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Lucci, Paula & Bhatkal, Tanvi & Khan, Amina, 2018. "Are we underestimating urban poverty?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 297-310.
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    5. repec:plo:pone00:0074378 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Joan J Kimutai & Crick Lund & Wilkister N Moturi & Seble Shewangizaw & Merga Feyasa & Charlotte Hanlon, 2023. "Evidence on the links between water insecurity, inadequate sanitation and mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(5), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Sahoo, Krushna Chandra & Hulland, Kristyna R.S. & Caruso, Bethany A. & Swain, Rojalin & Freeman, Matthew C. & Panigrahi, Pinaki & Dreibelbis, Robert, 2015. "Sanitation-related psychosocial stress: A grounded theory study of women across the life-course in Odisha, India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 80-89.
    8. Sclar, G.D. & Penakalapati, G. & Caruso, B.A. & Rehfuess, E.A. & Garn, J.V. & Alexander, K.T. & Freeman, M.C. & Boisson, S. & Medlicott, K. & Clasen, T., 2018. "Exploring the relationship between sanitation and mental and social well-being: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 121-134.
    9. Stevenson, Edward G.J. & Greene, Leslie E. & Maes, Kenneth C. & Ambelu, Argaw & Tesfaye, Yihenew Alemu & Rheingans, Richard & Hadley, Craig, 2012. "Water insecurity in 3 dimensions: An anthropological perspective on water and women's psychosocial distress in Ethiopia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 392-400.
    10. Vica Marie Jelena Tomberge & Janine Stefanie Bischof & Regula Meierhofer & Akina Shrestha & Jennifer Inauen, 2021. "The Physical Burden of Water Carrying and Women’s Psychosocial Well-Being: Evidence from Rural Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-11, July.
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    12. Wutich, Amber & Ragsdale, Kathleen, 2008. "Water insecurity and emotional distress: Coping with supply, access, and seasonal variability of water in a Bolivian squatter settlement," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2116-2125, December.
    13. Subbaraman, Ramnath & Nolan, Laura & Shitole, Tejal & Sawant, Kiran & Shitole, Shrutika & Sood, Kunal & Nanarkar, Mahesh & Ghannam, Jess & Betancourt, Theresa S. & Bloom, David E. & Patil-Deshmukh, An, 2014. "The psychological toll of slum living in Mumbai, India: A mixed methods study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 155-169.
    14. Bisung, Elijah & Elliott, Susan J., 2018. "Improvement in access to safe water, household water insecurity, and time savings: A cross-sectional retrospective study in Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1-8.
    15. Hang Ren & Wei Guo & Zhenke Zhang & Leonard Musyoka Kisovi & Priyanko Das, 2020. "Population Density and Spatial Patterns of Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-14, September.
    16. Susan C Weller & Ben Vickers & H Russell Bernard & Alyssa M Blackburn & Stephen Borgatti & Clarence C Gravlee & Jeffrey C Johnson, 2018. "Open-ended interview questions and saturation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, June.
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