Health Care and Women's Empowerment: The role of Self Help Groups

Abstract

Over the last couple of decades the concept of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and its potential as an effective tool to alleviate poverty and empower women has garnered considerable interest worldwide. Considering the importance given by policy makers across various nations to the group approach while conceptualizing, formulating and implementing any scheme or programme for the welfare of marginalized and underprivileged sections of the society (especially women), we identified the need to critically examine and explore the role of SHGs in the empowerment of women with a special emphasis on health status.To date, the functioning of SHGs has essentially been viewed only from an economic perspective. The existing approach puts encourages the economic development of women, with SHGs a mechanism to achieving this. However, how these economic benefits are being translated into the change in women's status, particularly their health status, remains unexplored and ultimately unaddressed.This working research paper attempts to review the scope and limitations of SHGs in improving women's health and empowerment based upon empirical work undertaken in the Jharkhand state of India. Our paper also explores the extent to which SHGs can be involved in attaining better health status for women, and thereby point the way for further research.

Assessing the potential of self-help group women for improving reproductive health of women in a tribal block of Maharashtra, India

“…Another study was undertaken in Deoghar district of Jharkhand with the specific objective of estimating the level of healthcare services provided by the SHGs and the awareness and satisfaction level of their members 11 . Field surveys, interviews and select case studies among 100 SHG women were conducted.…”

Role of self help groups in women empowerment and health

“…1 In India, self-help groups are women oriented and most of their activities are concentrated towards savings and credit activities. 2 There is a common perception in development literature that increased participation of women in savings and credit activities or economic attainment will empower women and it is an effective tool to alleviate poverty and empower women has garnered considerable interest worldwide. 3 There is also the perception that economic attainment will empower women's status in family and in the community, giving them more power to participate in decision-making process.…”