Improving work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities: an action research protocol

Abstract

In Kenya, employment rates for persons with disabilities are very low and those with psychosocial disabilities have even more dismal rates of employment. This situation has negative impact on the individual’s recovery, quality of life, mental and physical health. The systemic exclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities in work and employment disproportionately affects women. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of disability inclusion training to improve work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities in Tana River County, Kenya. The study will adopt a mixed methods research design using action research approach. A sample of women with psychosocial disabilities will be trained using a researcher designed disability inclusion training manual, while employers and other stakeholders will be trained on inclusive employment. Trainings will be tailored to suit different employers and for different types of psychosocial disabilities. Interactive learning and linking sessions involving the two groups and process evaluations will be conducted at different time points to measure the impact of the intervention. Findings from this pilot study will inform future research on work and employability programs for rural women with psychosocial disabilities. The study protocol was approved by Maseno University Ethics Review Committee (MUERC/00851/20). Findings from this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and scientific publications in peer reviewed journals.

Unemployment in women with psychosocial disabilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Lessons from Tana River County, Kenya

“…Only the participants who gave informed consent in writing or thumbprint participated in the study. The study was part of larger project that aimed to improve the employment opportunities for rural women with psychosocial disabilities (Gitonga et al, 2021 ; Tele et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The aim of this study is to explore work and unemployment experience of women with psychosocial disabilities in a rural Tana River community during the COVID‐19 pandemic and its impact. It forms part of a larger study that adopts an action research methodology to improve work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities (Gitonga et al, 2021 ).…”

“…It forms part of a larger study that adopts an action research methodology to improve work and employment opportunities for women with psychosocial disabilities (Gitonga et al, 2021).…”

Mental Health Knowledge, Anticipated Discrimination and Social Functioning Among Women Living with Psychosocial Disability in Rural Kenya

“…Although studies abound on the sociodemographic characteristics of persons with psychosocial disabilities, most of the studies are in high income settings or urban areas where factors existing in the setting may mediate observed effects. In this study, we set out to examine mental health knowledge, anticipated discrimination, and social functioning amongst women with psychosocial disability in Tana River County as part of a larger study seeking to improve work and employment [11]. This study aimed to investigate: (1) the rates of anticipated discrimination, mental health knowledge and social functioning, (2) the associations of mental health knowledge, discrimination and social functioning with sociodemographic characteristics, and (3) the association between Mental health knowledge, anticipated discrimination and social functioning.…”