Water insecurity, water borrowing and psychosocial stress among Daasanach pastoralists in northern Kenya

• Published in: Water international Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 63 - 86
• Main Authors: Ford, Leslie B., Bethancourt, Hilary J., Swanson, Zane S., Nzunza, Rosemary, Wutich, Amber, Brewis, Alexandra, Young, Sera, Almeida, David M., Douglass, Matthew, Ndiema, Emmanuel K., Braun, David R., Pontzer, Herman, Rosinger, Asher Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 2023; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Coping; Households; Kenya; Pastoralism; pastoralists; Psychological stress; psychosocial stress; Regression analysis; Security; Social interactions; Stress; Water; water borrowing; Water insecurity; Psychosocial Stress; Water Borrowing; Pastoralists; Kenya; Water Insecurity
• ISSN: 0250-8060; 1941-1707
• DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2022.2138050

This article quantifies Daasanach water insecurity experiences in northern Kenya, examines how water insecurity is associated with water borrowing and psychosocial stress, and evaluates if water borrowing mitigates the stress from water insecurity. Of 133 households interviewed in seven communities, 94.0% were water insecure and 74.4% borrowed water three or more times in the prior month. Regression analyses demonstrate water-borrowing frequency moderates the relationship between water insecurity and psychosocial stress. Only those who rarely or never borrowed water reported greater stress with higher water insecurity. The coping mechanism of water borrowing may help blunt water insecurity-related stress.