Connecting the dots: economic networks, health knowledge, and supportive social environments for women’s empowerment in rural Kenya

This paper investigates the role of informal economic networks—specifically, table banking groups—in facilitating the diffusion of health and nutrition knowledge among women in rural Kenya. Using original microdata collected from seven groups in Migori County, we apply social network analysis techniques to examine how positions within economic advice networks relate to individuals’ centrality and brokerage roles in health-related information exchanges. Our findings reveal that while economic advice networks appear denser and more reciprocal, health-related advice networks tend to be sparser, less cohesive, and heavily reliant on a few key individuals. We observe a limited role for kinship-based information sharing and more community-based exchanges, allowing health and nutrition knowledge to spread also outside the inner circle of the community. Women who are central in providing financial advice are more likely to occupy bridging positions in health and nutrition networks. They serve as key conduits for information flow, highlighting the potential of peer networks in promoting women’s agency and collective health literacy. Overall, the results underscore the value of leveraging existing informal structures to amplify public health outreach and social empowerment in resource-constrained settings, offering actionable insights for policy and development programs aimed at enhancing women’s agency