Measurement of social capital as an indicator of community‐based initiatives (CBI) in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Sheikh, Mubashar; Ali, Syed Z.; Hussain, Abid; Shehzadi, Romana; Afzal, Muhammad Mahmood

doi:10.1108/14777260910979317

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The difference in the functioning of the CHPS concepts in the two cases speaks to the presence of high social capital—at least for some of its proxies such as trust—as an indication of sufficient institutional performance. The findings in the present study are also consistent with the work of Sheikh et al 8. They noted from Iran that high levels of both cognitive and structural social capital (including associational affiliation, trust and citizenry activities) are associated with better operation and functioning of CBI that are meant to improve health-related quality of life and well-being.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…It was found that poor collaboration with communities and limited knowledge of community members partly accounted for failures in some HAZ 7. Sheikh et al 8 also note that in Iran, high levels of both cognitive and structural social capital (including associational affiliation, trust and citizenry activities) are associated with better operation and functioning of community-based initiatives (CBI) meant to improve health-related quality of life. It is thus high time to usher in further empirical evidence to ignite a rethink of strategies in sustaining the CHPS concept.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Local patterns of social capital and sustenance of the Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) policy: a qualitative comparative study in Ghana

Amoah¹

2019

BMJ Open

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ObjectiveSocial capital—the resources embedded in social relationships—has been associated with health severally. Notwithstanding, only a handful of studies have empirically examined how it shapes health policies. This paper extends the discourse by comparatively examining how variations in local patterns of structural and cognitive social capital underpin the successes and challenges in managing and sustaining the Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) policy in Ghana. The CHPS is an intervention to address health inequalities.DesignQualitative study involving individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions using a semi-structured interview guide. Thematic analysis approach, inspired by McConnell’s typology of policy success (or failure) was adopted.SettingTwo rural communities in two districts in Ashanti region in Ghana.ParticipantsThirty-two primary participants as well as four health personnel and four traditional and political leaders.ResultsBoth structural and cognitive components of social capital underpinned efficient functioning of the CHPS initiative regarding funding, patronage and effective information transmission. Sufficient level of social capital in a community enhanced understanding of the nature and purpose of the CHPS policy as well as complementary ones such as the referral policy. Contrary to popular conclusions, it was discovered that the influence of social capital was not necessarily embedded in its quantity but the extent of conscious activation and application. Furthermore, the findings contravened the assertion that social capital may be less potent in small-sized communities. However, elevated levels of cognitive social capital encouraged people to access the CHPS on credit or even for free, which was injurious to its sustenance.ConclusionThe CHPS initiative, and pro-poor policies alike, are more likely to thrive in localities with sufficient structural and cognitive social capital. Lack of it may render the CHPS susceptible to recurrent, yet preventable challenges.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local patterns of social capital and sustenance of the Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) policy: a qualitative comparative study in Ghana

Amoah¹

2019

BMJ Open

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“…Other questions focused on household characteristics. Furthermore, the validated World Bank's social capital assessment tool on household social capital survey was used to collect household data on structural and cognitive aspects of social capital at both individual and collective levels[ 26 ]. Some of the questions on socio-demographic and household characteristics were adopted from the demographic and health survey questionnaire, which is well validated and widely used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Capital as a Determinant of Pregnant Mother’s Place of Delivery: Experience from Kongwa District in Central Tanzania

Semali¹,

Leyna²,

Mmbaga³

et al. 2015

PLoS ONE

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IntroductionMaternal ill health contributes highly to the global burden of diseases in countries South of Sahara including Tanzania. Ensuring that all deliveries take place in health facilities and hence attended by skilled health personnel is one of the strategies advocated by global and national policies, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, the number of women delivered by skilled health personnel has remained low in sub Saharan Africa despite of a number of interventions. We sought to determine the role of social capital in facilitating health facility delivery.MethodsWe randomly selected 744 households with children aged less than five years from two randomly selected wards in a rural area in Tanzania. Mothers were enquired about place of delivery of the last child. Social capital was assessed using a modified questionnaire with both structural and cognitive aspects of social capital, administered in face-to-face interviews. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to develop asocial capital index measure. Uni-variate and multivariable regression models were run using STATA 12.ResultsMajority (85.9%) of the mothers reported to have delivered in a health facility during their last birth. Compared to the lowest social capital quintile, delivering in a health facility increased significantly with increase in social capital level: low (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.9; Confidence Interval (CI): 1.4–6.1, p = 0.004); moderate (AOR = 5.5, CI: 2.3–13.3, p-value<0.001); high (AOR = 4.7; CI: 1.9–11.6, p-value<0.001) and highest (AOR = 5.6, CI: 2.4–13.4, p-value<0.001) and χ2-test for the trend was significant (χ2 = 17.21, p<0.001).ConclusionOverall, social capital seems to play an important role in enhancing health facility delivery that may lead to improved maternal and child health. Concerted efforts should focus on promoting and supporting effective social capital and in particular cognitive social capital.

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“…Research in many parts of Ghana have consistently registered that reliance on both close and distant social networks—including cognitive elements such as trust—lead to adoption and conflation of different forms of health practice and options without recourse to the referral system [ 31 , 32 ]. Developments in other sub-Saharan African countries [ 13 , 33 ] and other parts of the globe, especially low- and middle-income countries [ 34 ], have also shown similar patterns. However, none of the studies cited has examined the state of the referral policy from an explicit SC standpoint.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Strengthening the Referral System through Social Capital: A Qualitative Inquiry in Ghana

Amoah¹,

Phillips²

2017

Healthcare

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The referral system in health care has been noted as very influential in determining which services are accessed and when. Nonetheless, existing studies have relied on specific measurable factors relating to health personnel, transportation and communication infrastructure, and finance to explain the challenges facing the referral policy in developing countries. While this is understandable, the role of social capital remains mostly uncharted even though it is implicit in the well-known lay referral system. Using various facets of the social capital concept, this paper empirically examines how the resources embedded in both structural and cognitive aspects of social relationships influence knowledge of, and adherence to, referral policy. This study is based on semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with 79 adults in the Ashanti Region of Ghana in 2015. Of the 79 participants, 28 lived in urban areas and 51 in rural localities. Eight health personnel and eight community leaders also contributed to the study. Additionally, six focus group discussions were held. The findings indicated that both cognitive and structural forms of social capital considerably underpinned the ability and willingness of people to adhere to the referral process. Moreover, the role of social capital was double-barrelled. It contributed in a significant way to encouraging or dissuading potential patients from rightly embracing the policy. In addition, precepts of social capital reinforced both positive and adverse effects of the other determinants of the policy such as finance and transportation. However, the magnitude of such impact was linked to how ‘resourceful’ and ‘trustworthy’ one’s available social acquaintances were. The paper suggests that a cautious engagement with social capital will make it a potentially powerful tool for understanding the gaps in and improving the effectiveness of referral policy.

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Measurement of social capital as an indicator of community‐based initiatives (CBI) in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract: The evaluation findings support the use of social capital indicators for investigating the impact and affectivity of CBI for health and development, and underlines the need for their consideration during implementation processes and further investigation.

Cited by 8 publications

References 9 publications

Local patterns of social capital and sustenance of the Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) policy: a qualitative comparative study in Ghana

Local patterns of social capital and sustenance of the Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) policy: a qualitative comparative study in Ghana

Social Capital as a Determinant of Pregnant Mother’s Place of Delivery: Experience from Kongwa District in Central Tanzania

Strengthening the Referral System through Social Capital: A Qualitative Inquiry in Ghana

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