Water Insecurity, Water Borrowing, and Psychosocial Stress Among Daasanach Pastoralists in Northern Kenya

Authors

• Leslie Ford, The Pennsylvania State University
• HIlary J. Bethancourt, The Pennsylvania State University, Northwestern University
• Zane Swanson, Duke University
• Rosemary Nzunza, Kenya Medical Research Institute
• Amber Wutich, Arizona State University
• Alexandra Brewis, Arizona State University
• Sera Young, Northwestern University
• David Almeida, Pennsylvania State University
• Matthew J. Douglass, University of Nebraska—LincolnFollow
• Emmanuel K. Ndiema, National Museums of Kenya
• David R. Braun, The George Washington University, Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology
• Herman Pontzer, Duke University
• Asher Y. Rosinger, Pennsylvania State University

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1-28-2022

Citation

t doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.26.22269937

Comments

Used by permission.

Abstract

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 7 communities, 95% 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.