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Bleeding Bodies, Untrustworthy Bodies: A Social Constructionist Approach to Health and Wellbeing of Young People in Kenya

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  • Elizabeth Opiyo Onyango

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2N 1N2, Canada
    School of Nursing and Midwifery, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega 50100, Kenya)

  • Susan J. Elliott

    (Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2N 1N2, Canada)

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals provide a global development agenda that is meant to be inclusive of all people. However, the development needs for vulnerable populations such as youth are not reflected within the policy agenda of some developing countries. One of the reasons for this is that research that explores health and wellbeing concerns for young people are sparse in the region and where they exist, the focus has been on marginalized subgroups. To address this gap, this cross-sectional study explored the health and wellbeing of youth in Kenya. We conducted 10 focus group discussions and 14 in-depth interviews with youth ages 15 to 24 years. A thematic analysis of the data revealed that structural factors are important influencers of youth perceptions and their social constructions of health and wellbeing. Kenyan youth are concerned about the health status and healthcare services in their communities, as well as issues of community trust of youths and perceived risks of political misuse and emotional suffering. Our findings suggest that youth transitioning into adulthood in resource-constrained areas experience feelings of powerlessness and inability to take charge over their own life. This impacts how they perceive and socially construct health and wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Opiyo Onyango & Susan J. Elliott, 2020. "Bleeding Bodies, Untrustworthy Bodies: A Social Constructionist Approach to Health and Wellbeing of Young People in Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-19, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7555-:d:430437
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Donatien Beguy & Joyce Mumah & Lindsey Gottschalk, 2014. "Unintended Pregnancies among Young Women Living in Urban Slums: Evidence from a Prospective Study in Nairobi City, Kenya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-10, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elizabeth A. Ochola & Susan J. Elliott & Diana M. S. Karanja, 2021. "The Impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on Women’s Health and Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A Case Study of Kenya," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.

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