Subjective Health of Women and Related Factors in Rural Burkina Faso: Community-Based Participatory Research Utilizing Photo Voice

1. Introduction

The goal of health promotion is the quality of life (QOL) rather than health itself. Therefore, exploring the subjective health of the population is essential to develop a health promotive program. Burkina Faso is confronting the issue of maternal and child health (MCH), and improvement of MCH status is prioritized in the national health policy. This study aims to explore women’s subjective health and the related factors in order to develop the program on MCH improvement in rural Burkina Faso.

 2. Data

Pictures taken by a woman living in a village  in rural Burkina Faso and qualitative data collected by focus group discussions in same village were utilized and analyzed qualitatively.

 3. Method

Photo Voice was utilized to explore women’s subjective health and their contributing factors in collaboration with local health professionals.

 4. Findings

Being in good physical condition, maintaining social solidarity, being able to work for her husband and children, having good relations with her husband, and bringing their children up well were identified as healthy women’s status. Bonding to social solidarity, guaranteed access to cash, practicing healthy behaviors, and husband’s love and support were extracted as factors that contribute to women’s health. Financial protection and health counseling were identified as main function of social solidarity.

 5. Discussion

Maintaining social solidarity was a factor that contributes to health as well as healthy status itself. This study suggested that it would be effective for MCH improvement program formulation to strengthen social solidarity because it could contribute to improving women’s QOL as well as mitigating the negative influence of the social determinants of health.