Women’s groups, particularly savings and credit groups, are implemented at scale in many low and middle-income countries. Increasingly, economic programs include an additional training or health intervention delivered to members during meetings. The review will synthesise evidence on integrated economic and health, nutrition and sanitation interventions with women’s groups on health-related knowledge, behaviours and outcomes in low-and middle-income countries. We will examine the effects of integrated interventions delivered through women’s groups and aim to identify enablers and barriers to achieving outcomes.
Led by Dr. Sapna Desai of Population Council and Dr. Gary Darmstadt of Stanford University, the review will synthesise findings from experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations and linked process evaluations or qualitative research. We will include studies that report effects on health-related knowledge, behaviour and outcomes amongst adults and children, for domains consistent with the WHO definition of health as a ‘state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.’ We will adopt a mixed-methods approach to examine the theories of change, enablers and barriers associated with achieving health outcomes through women’s groups that integrate economic and health activities.
©Gates Archive/Yagazie Emezi
Status: Ongoing Work