Understanding the Role of Social Capital on Household Crises and Coping Mechanisms Among Homestead Food Production Program Beneficiaries in Post-Conflict Cambodia Open Access
Williams, Nicole M (2012)
Abstract
Background: Programs that build social capital contribute
to augmentation in the pathway between crisis and poor health.
Interventions like Helen Keller International's (HKI) Homestead
Food Production Program (HFPP), act to strengthen social capital of
its beneficiaries; yet it is not well understood which dimensions
of social capital are most viable. The study of specific
interventions that strengthen social capital is crucial to
understanding how health can be protected from the adverse effects
of crises.
Objective: This thesis explores, within the context of the HFPP
in Cambodia, the importance of social capital in mediating a
household's vulnerability to crises and their ability to cope with
shocks and the relationship between participation in the HFPP and
the various dimensions of social capital.
Methods: In-depth interviews (IDIs) with women in control and
intervention groups (n=10) investigated perceptions of crises and
attitudes towards coping mechanisms. IDIs with the intervention
group investigated how the HFPP encourages the dimensions of social
capital. IDIs with village chiefs (n=9) provided perspective from
local leadership. Women from both groups with at least one child
under five, who did not participate in an IDI, participated in a
household survey (n=100).
Results: Participation in the HFPP was associated with higher
levels of social capital. Of the three crisis events analyzed,
social capital was associated with fewer experiences of food
shortage only. Structural social capital as opposed to cognitive
social capital largely drove differences in social capital levels
between HFPP beneficiaries and women in the control group.
Discussion: Women with higher levels of social capital are rich
with social support networks that provide a safety net against
experiencing household crises. The endowment of social capital,
especially structural social capital, was an asset to coping with
crises. The finding of a lack of association between social capital
and every crisis events suggests that cognitive social capital is
more important in preventing crises. This study will help HKI adapt
its HFPP to strengthen the social capital, specifically the forms
of cognitive social capital, of it beneficiaries. In this way, the
HFPP can better function to mitigate the negative health outcomes
of household crisis events.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Introduction...1
1.1 Definition of Terms...4
Chapter 2: Comprehensive Review of the Literature...6
2.1 Introduction to the Literature Review...6
2.2 Origins and Definitions of Social Capital...6
2.3 Links between Social Capital and Health...12
2.4 Feasibility of Generating Social Capital...17
2.5 Helen Keller International's Homestead Food Production Program...19
Chapter 3: Methodology...23
3.1 Objectives...23
3.2 Data Collection...23
3.3 Analytical Methodology...30
3.4 Ethical Considerations...34
Chapter 4: Results...35
Chapter 5: Discussion...56
5.1 Main Findings...56
5.2 Limitations...66
5.3 Recommendations for Public Health...68
5.4 Conclusion...72
References...74
Appendix I: Supplemental Tables... 82
Appendix II: Qualitative Study Instruments...86
Appendix III: Quantitative Study Tool...98
Appendix III: Quantitative Study Tool...98
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