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Objectives A number of evidence suggest that the society with minimal health inequality has abundant Social Capital(SC) and SC is related to participation to microfinance, however, empirical studies on the association between health and SC are limited. This study aims to explore the features of SC for women who participate to microfinance in rural Burkina Faso, in order to discuss about response towards health inequality reduction. Methods Exploratory sequential design mixed method was adopted. Photo Voice was conducted with 11 women living in a village of A health district to explore social support functions that contribute to maternal and child health, and data were analyzed inductively. A survey was conducted for 563 women aged 20-45 years living in the rural villages of A health district with questionnaire developed by using qualitative study results, and descriptive statistics and groups comparison were performed.ResultsAssistance with cash loan or transportation to clinic, information provision on the effects of family planning, and reporting members’ physical condition to their husband were extracted as SC functions for women in microfinance. Quantitative study elucidated that the proportion of membership of microfinance is only 14.4% and that quantity of social support was significantly greater in membership of microfinance, in particular financial support. Information support was not so exchanged contrary to qualitative research results. Exchange of social support was not limited between microfinance members but mainly with extended family.Conclusions SC through microfinance consisted of physical, information and emotional support, which reflected on the socio-economic status and health system in rural Burkina Faso. The member had a plentiful SC but exchange of SC was not limited among membership. In order to use the effectiveness of SC through microfinance for health inequality reduction, generalization of SC throughout community including non-membership should be considered.
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Microfinance is essentially a financial service, routed to the poor generally through Self Help Groups (SHGs), in sheer belief that it will enhance their available choices, opportunities and empower them both socially and economically. With more than 387.38 million Indian people living below poverty line (World Bank, 2011), it becomes imperative to provide them a stimulus to overcome the quagmire of poverty and ignorance prevalent among them. The study area comprises of the selected villages of Rangjuli revenue circle of Goalpara district of Assam, where the Self Help Groups have been surveyed, regarding the microcredit and its role-both positive and negative, in their economic and social lives including their satisfaction level regarding microfinance. The study also bears significance as most of the SHGs surveyed (45 out of 57) are women groups, who are seen as most reliable in terms of repayment and utilization of loans (Joy Deshmukh-Ranadive, 2005). The result suggests that the formation of SHGs and expansion of credit facilities has led to livelihood promotion and poverty alleviation of about 86 per cent surveyed SHGs of the study area. Moreover, notably it is basically the women-run enterprises which have rather benefitted themselves and their families both economically and socially, vis-à-vis empowering themselves.
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It is a challenge for the poor to overcome the barriers to accessing health services. Membership-based microfinance with associated health programmes can improve health outcomes for the poor. This study reviewed the evidence published between 1993 and 2013 on the role of membership-based microfinance with associated health programmes in improving health outcomes for the poor in South Asia. A total of 661 papers were identified and 26 selected for inclusion, based on the relevance and rigour of the research methods. Of these 26, five were evidence reviews. Of the remaining 21 papers, 12 were from India, seven from Bangladesh, and one each from Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Three papers addressed more than one theme. Five key themes emerged from the review: (i) the impact of microfinance programmes on the social and economic situation of the poor; (ii) the impact of microfinance programmes on community health; (iii) the impact of integrated microfinance health programmes on raising client awareness; (iv) the impact of integrated microfinance health programmes on financing health care; and (v) the impact of integrated microfinance health programmes on affordable health-care products and services. The review provides new evidence on the pathways through which microfinance helps to improve population health and value for money for such programmes. Among countries with large populations in the informal sector, there is a strong case for policy-makers to support these groups in providing access to life-saving health care among the poor.
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HIV/AIDS impacts negatively on the individual as well as household economy. The conventional financial system considers the destitute people with HIV/AIDS are highly risky borrowers. It is not only because of their low economic-standing but also for less or no productivity, rapid health-erosion and shorter life-span. That is why they are indisposed to get access to the conventional financial system. This paper aims to develop an operational model of Islamic Microfinance (IsMF) that can extend financial privileges to the poor HIV/AIDS patients in order to illustrate their productive life by means of economic activities. This model has been drawn based on the previous literature and our study on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on the patients and their households in Malaysia. This model suggests “family-based financing” instead of “solidarity and woman-only approach” of the conventional Microfinance System. Simultaneously it proposes the mechanism of refinancing or loan-transformation to charity, where the general practice of the contemporary Microfinance is “financing based on repayment” approach. The viability of this model does not assert the operational self-sufficiency (OSS) or profitability of the Islamic Microfinance Institute (IsMFI); rather it emphasizes on enhancing the economic-performances of the poor people with HIV/AIDS. The implementation of this model may help to reduce productivity-loss and stigma while simultaneously increase human security of the HIV/AIDS patients and their families and increase adherence to treatment. The study can introduce a new product in the context of IsMF and be equipped as a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the financial intermediaries.
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Health services and modern medicines are out of reach for over one billion people globally. Micro-insurance for health is one method to address unmet health needs. This case study used a social exclusion perspective to assess the health and poverty impact of micro-insurance for health in Bangladesh and contrasts this with several micro-insurance systems for health offered in India. Micro-insurance for health in Bangladesh targeted towards the poor and the ultra-poor provides basic healthcare at an affordable rate whereas the Indian micro-insurance schemes for health have been implemented across larger populations and include high-cost and low-frequency events. Results of analysis of the existing literature showed that micro-insurance for health as currently offered in Bangladesh increased access to, and use of, basic health services among excluded populations but did not reduce the likelihood that essential health-related costs would be a catastrophic expense for a marginalized household.