Impact of Microcredit on Health of Poor Women in Kerala, India
Author Information
Author(s): K. S. Mohindra, S. Haddad, D. Narayana
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
Does participation in self help groups (SHGs) improve the health of poor women in Kerala?
Conclusion
Microcredit can help improve the health of poor women by reducing exclusion from health care and potentially promoting mental health.
Supporting Evidence
- SHG participation is associated with lower odds of exclusion from health care.
- Early joiners report less emotional stress compared to non-members.
- SHG members are less likely to face financial barriers to health care.
Takeaway
Joining a group that helps women get loans can make it easier for them to see a doctor when they need to.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study using survey data collected from 928 non-elderly poor women in Kerala.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to self-selection into SHGs and reliance on self-reported health data.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design may introduce selection bias, and it relies on self-reported health measures.
Participant Demographics
Non-elderly poor women from households below the poverty line in Kerala.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.56 for early joiners, 0.60 for late joiners, 0.53 for non-participants in households with SHG members
Confidence Interval
0.41–0.80 for early joiners, 0.39–0.94 for late joiners, 0.32–0.90 for non-participants with SHG members
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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