Objectives: This study assesses the effects of a comprehensive empowerment intervention on barriers to health care access for single mothers in coastal Kenya.
Methods: We surveyed 41 single mothers who completed a pilot empowerment program and 60 single mothers who had not yet initiated the program. Comparisons were made using bivariate tests of association and logistic regression.
Results: Women in the pilot program were less likely to report transportation costs (OR = 0.26; 95 % CI [0.11-0.59], p = 0.001) and hospital fees (OR = 0.22 [0.10-0.49], p < 0.001) as barriers. Pilot program mothers were more likely to visit a public hospital for their children (OR = 4.38; [1.58-12.1], p = 0.004) and self (OR = 4.70; [1.54-14.4], p = 0.007) when ill.
Conclusions: Empowerment programs can alleviate perceived barriers to health care among vulnerable populations.