‘Nurture the sprouting bud; do not uproot it’. Using saving groups to save for maternal and newborn health: lessons from rural Eastern Uganda
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Health Action
Abstract
Saving groups are increasingly being used to save in many developing countries.
However, there is limited literature about how they can be exploited to improve
maternal and newborn health.
Objectives: This paper describes saving practices, factors that encourage and constrain
saving with saving groups, and lessons learnt while supporting communities to save through
saving groups.
Methods: This qualitative study was done in three districts in Eastern Uganda. Saving groups
were identified and provided with support to enhance members’ access to maternal and
newborn health. Fifteen focus group discussions (FGDs) and 18 key informant interviews (KIIs)
were conducted to elicit members’ views about saving practices. Document review was
undertaken to identify key lessons for supporting saving groups. Qualitative data are presented
thematically.
Results: Awareness of the importance of saving, safe custody of money saved, flexible saving
arrangements and easy access to loans for personal needs including transport during obstetric
emergencies increased willingness to save with saving groups. Saving groups therefore
provided a safety net for the poor during emergencies. Poor management of saving groups
and detrimental economic practices like gambling constrained saving. Efficient running of
saving groups requires that they have a clear management structure, which is legally
registered with relevant authorities and that it is governed by a constitution.
Conclusions: Saving groups were considered a useful form of saving that enabled easy acess
to cash for birth preparedness and transportation during emergencies. They are like ‘a
sprouting bud that needs to be nurtured rather than uprooted’, as they appear to have the
potential to act as a safety net for poor communities that have no health insurance. Local
governments should therefore strengthen the management capacity of saving groups so as
to ensure their efficient running through partnerships with non-governmental organizations
that can provide support to such groups.
Description
Keywords
Saving groups, Maternal, Newborn, Birth preparedness, Implementation science, Health insurance
Citation
Elizabeth Ekirapa-Kiracho, Ligia Paina, Rornald Muhumuza Kananura, Aloysius Mutebi, Pacuto Jane, Juliet Tumuhairwe, Moses Tetui & Suzanne N Kiwanuka (2017) ‘Nurture the sprouting bud; do not uproot it’. Using saving groups to save for maternal and newborn health: lessons from rural Eastern Uganda, Global Health Action, 10:sup4, 1347311, DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2017.1347311