A Model for Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Single Mothers in the Developing World

Among the impoverished population of coastal Kenya, there is a rapidly growing group of young single mothers who suffer from adverse health outcomes, incomplete schooling, social ostracism by their communities, and economic hardship. To address this problem, in 2008 the Single Mothers Program (SMP) selected a group of vulnerable single mothers, provided them with basic relief and education, equipped them with training and start-up capital to run their own businesses, and assessed the impact of the program via a pre- and post-implementation survey. After two years in the program, a majority of the single mothers increased their contraceptive use, increased their degree of literacy, increased their individual incomes, and were more positively perceived by their communities. This study demonstrates a program model that can be used to improve the health and quality of life of single mothers and their children in similar communities throughout the world. Keywords: single mothers, Kenya, quality of life, women’s health, microfinance, AfricaAfr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 14-2

A Model for Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Single Mothers in the Developing World

Among the impoverished population of coastal Kenya, there is a rapidly growing group of young single mothers who suffer from adverse health outcomes, incomplete schooling, social ostracism by their communities, and economic hardship. To address this problem, in 2008 the Single Mothers Program (SMP) selected a group of vulnerable single mothers, provided them with basic relief and education, equipped them with training and start-up capital to run their own businesses, and assessed the impact of the program via a pre- and post-implementation survey. After two years in the program, a majority of the single mothers increased their contraceptive use, increased their degree of literacy, increased their individual incomes, and were more positively perceived by their communities. This study demonstrates a program model that can be used to improve the health and quality of life of single mothers and their children in similar communities throughout the world.Parmi la population pauvre de la côte du Kenya, il y a un groupe en pleine croissance des jeunes mères célibataires qui souffrent de conséquences nocives sur la santé, la scolarisation abandonnée, l'ostracisme social par leurs communautés, et des difficultés économiques. Pour résoudre ce problème, en 2008, le Programme des Mères Célibataires (PMC) a sélectionné un groupe de mères célibataires vulnérables, leur a fourni des secours et de l'éducation de base, leur a donné une formation et le capital initial pour leur permettre de fonctionner leurs propres entreprises et d'évaluer l'impact du programme à travers une enquête pré- et post- exécution. Après deux ans dans le programme, la majorité des mères célibataires ont augmenté leur utilisation de la contraception, ont augmenté leur niveau d’alphabétisation, de leurs revenus individuels et ont perçu plus positivement par leurs communautés. Cette étude démontre un modèle de programme qui peut être utilisé pour améliorer la santé et la qualité de vie des mères célibataires et de leurs enfants dans les communautés pareilles à travers le monde