Water insecurity, water borrowing and psychosocial stress among Daasanach pastoralists in northern Kenya
Leslie B. Ford, Hilary J. Bethancourt, Zane S. Swanson, Rosemary Nzunza, Amber Wutich, Alexandra Brewis, Sera L. Young, David M. Almeida, Matthew Douglass, Emmanuel Ndiema, David R. Braun, Herman Pontzer, Asher Y. Rosinger
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, 94% 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.