Ethnicity, livelihoods, masculinity, and health among Luo men in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background

Previous research suggests that ethnic self-identity has little consequence for objective health outcomes compared to the structural dimensions of ethnicity.

Methods

Using qualitative data, we investigated perceptions of ethnicity in relation to health among Luo men in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.

Results

While recognizing the complicated cultural origin of poor health, responding Luo men stressed on gender and everyday livelihood situations as being more critical for their health than Luo customs. Recognition of the structural causes of ill-health among the men overlapped with lay notions derived from particular expressions of Luo culture in urban slum contexts. To some extent, respondents regarded the performance of their sense of ethnic identity as protective, though they also admitted to the health-damaging repercussions of some of the ways they enacted aspects of Luo culture.

Conclusion

Ethnic beliefs that link particular enactments of local customs with health outcomes may motivate the performance of cultural identity in ways that can produce critical health outcomes.

Keywords:

• Kenya
• Luo men
• masculinity
• poor health
• slums
• cultural beliefs
• poverty

Acknowledgments

Our longsuffering anonymous reviewers offered critical comments that have helped shape and strengthen our arguments in this paper. We have drawn on data from the Slum Masculinities Project, which was funded by the Ford Foundation (Grant No. 1105-0320). Analysis and writing time for APHRC-based authors is supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Grant No. 2006-8376) and the Rockefeller Foundation (Grant No. 2008 AR 001).

Notes

1. A flying toilet involves the use of plastic bags for defecation. The bags are then hurled or flung into trenches, roadsides, or just away.

2. Chang'aa, which literally means ‘I am the Iron Man’, is a very intoxicating local brew that is popular throughout Kenya. It is cheap, but sometimes toxic. Local brewers have been known to increase the potency of chang'aa by adding substances like jet fuel, embalming fluid or battery acid. Frequently, chang'aa drinkers die or suffer blindness from methanol poisoning.