Understanding the context of poverty and investigating culturally relevant strategies and resources to promote health and mental health for women experiencing poverty in Korah, Ethipia

Women in Korah, Ethiopia experience numerous challenges in their health and mental health due to the influence of poverty. Though research on the relationship between poverty and mental health for individuals in low- and middle- income countries is growing, research is lacking on the specific ways that poverty impacts women’s lives in Korah. More contextual knowledge is needed to improve best practices for supportive professionals working in this community. Using feminist theory, post-colonial theory, and anti-oppressive theory, this study explores the impacts of poverty for women in Korah, including how poverty relates to mental health. Current coping strategies utilized by Korah women are also explored, along with recommendations for social workers in this community. Through semi-structured, qualitative interviews, seven supportive professionals shared their knowledge and insights from their experiences working with women in Korah. Themes that arose in the data included the impacts of poverty, gender roles and cultural norms, spirituality, and tensions of development work. Implications for policy, social work practice, and future research are also addressed.