Seasonal and gendered variations in experiences and perceptions of water insecurity among smallholder farmers in western Kenya: a qualitative study

Abstract

Water insecurity contributes to negative physical and mental health outcomes, and has been found to disproportionately affect women, who are typically primarily responsible for fetching water and managing its use. However, little is understood about how water insecurity manifests among agrarian, HIV-affected populations in sub-Saharan Africa. To explore water insecurity experiences among HIV-affected, smallholder farmers in western Kenya, the unique experiences of women in this context, and coping strategies to water insecurity consequences, data were collected as part of the Shamba Maisha study (NCT02815579). The Shamba Maisha study tests an agricultural intervention to improve the health and nutrition of people living with HIV. Interviews were conducted with 30 adults (24 women; 6 men; age = 41.79.4 years). Interviewers asked open-ended questions, probing about water acquisition, uses of water, challenges, strategies to cope with water-related challenges, farming practices, and perceived benefits of the Shamba Maisha program through the go-along interview method. A coding framework was developed after identifying emergent themes, and analysis was conducted using a combination of inductive and a priori methods using Atlas.ti 8. Almost 70% of interviewed households experienced water scarcity and poor water quality. Water insecurity challenges and associated consequences varied depending on the season. Women were responsible for the acquisition and management of water (90%), which resulted from normalized gender roles. Primary methods of coping with water insecurity were storing water (96.7%), treating water (86.7%), and diversifying water sources (83.3%). Shamba Maisha study participation increased participants empowerment, offered new agricultural opportunities, and increased hope for the future. Addressing water insecurity must be specific to the season and differences in water experiences across gender, and has the potential to significantly improve physical and mental health outcomes of the women of the household because of their responsibility over water use and management.

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