Cultural and socio-economic conditions as factors contributing to chronic stress in sub-Saharan African communities
Abstract
Stress is known to contribute to overall health status. Many individuals in sub-Saharan Africa are believed to be stressed about their employment, income, and health. This study aimed to investigate hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in settlement communities in Kenya. Hair samples were collected from 108 volunteers from settlement communities in Kenya. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure hair cortisol concentrations. In parallel, a health survey was completed. The mean ± SD for the cortisol concentration in the hair of volunteers from the settlement communities in Naivasha was 639 ± 300 ng/g, which was higher than found for a Caucasian reference group (299 ± 110 ng/g; one-way ANOVA, P = 0.0003). There were no differences in hair cortisol concentrations between members of slum settlements adjacent to large floriculture farms in Naivasha (Karagita, Kamere/Kwa Muhia/DCK, and Kasarani) compared with those well-removed from all floriculture in Mogotio (Mogotio and Westlands/Katorongot). However, hair cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in females, divorced volunteers, those who made below minimum wage, and those who reported feeling unsafe collecting water or using sanitation facilities within these 2 settlement groups. We found no evidence for increased chronic stress (measured by hair cortisol content) between members of slum settlements adjacent to versus distant to large floriculture farms. Cultural and socio-economic conditions that prevail in much of sub-Saharan Africa were found to be factors contributing to chronic stress.
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The finding that higher levels of sanitation according to existing criteria were not strongly associated with more positive perceptions of the menstrual management environment is consistent with studies of girls in schools reporting that girls may avoid using sanitation facilities due to stigma around menstruation and fears for privacy, and with women's sanitation-related stress.
“However, this finding is consistent with studies of girls’ in schools, which have reported that girls may avoid using sanitation facilities due to stigma around menstruation and fears for privacy [2,12,13], and women’s sanitation-related stress [16,17].”
From The relationship between household sanitation and women’s experience of menstrual hygiene: Findings from a cross-sectional survey in Kaduna State, Nigeria. (2018) · cites this paper as [17]
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- Authors
- Henley, P., Lowthers, M., Koren, G., Fedha, P. T., Russell, E., VanUum, S., Arya, S., Darnell, R., Creed, I. F., Trick, C. G., & Bend, J. R.
- Affiliations
- Western University (CA)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Egerton University, Njoro, Nakuru, Kenya.
- Ecosystem Health Research Program, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2014-09
- Volume
- 92
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 725-732
- ISSN
- 0008-4212 (ISSN-L)
- 1205-7541
- OpenAlex
- W2108031127
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 1.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- International Development Research Centre
- Egerton University
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
- Keywords
- chronic stress, hair cortisol, stress biomarkers, slum settlements, socioeconomic conditions, cultural factors, employment and income, gender differences, marital status, Naivasha, Kenya
- MeSH terms
- Cultural Characteristics, Female, Hair, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Kenya, Male, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors, Stress, Psychological, Biomarkers, Young Adult
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