Factors associated with the under-representation of women in medical leadership in Nairobi County Kenya: a mixed method study

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dc.contributor.authorObino, L. N.
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-20T07:43:27Z
dc.date.available2023-09-20T07:43:27Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.descriptionFull - text thesis
dc.description.abstractEffective healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries require patient centered service delivery, and the role of gender in healthcare leadership in these countries is a significant concern. Despite the increasing number of women enrolling in professional degrees, their representation in higher-level medical leadership positions remains low. To address this issue, a mixed-method study was conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya, involving surveys and interviews with medical professionals in executive leadership and management positions. The study found that women met the one-third representation threshold in executive management committees of selected hospitals but faced several barriers in their career progression journey. After adjusting for significant covariates, women with higher levels of education were associated with less likelihood of ascending to leadership (β = -4.60; 95%CI: -9.15 - -0.051; p =0.048). On average, women were found to report higher barriers to career progression than men (Mean difference= 1.133; p value = 0.000; 95% CI: 0.539- 1.728). Women were also found to perceive a greater lack of executive sponsors compared to men (Mead difference=0.683; p-value =0.043; 95% CI :0.022- 1.345). The qualitative interviews revealed barriers such as challenges in work-life balance, limited opportunities for career development, poor communication and negotiation skills, organizational challenges such as limited succession planning, unconscious gender bias, politicization of roles within the organizations, dismissive attitude towards women leaders and lack of mentorship. Other barriers included lack of support from fellow women and patriarchal structures within the society. To promote gender equity in medical leadership, efforts should focus on challenging gender stereotypes, promoting diversity and inclusion, and creating more equitable career advancement opportunities. Future research should explore additional strategies to overcome these barriers and further enhance gender representation in healthcare leadership.
dc.identifier.citationObino, L. N. (2023). Factors associated with the under-representation of women in medical leadership in Nairobi County Kenya: A mixed method study [Strathmore University]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/13503
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11071/13503
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherStrathmore University
dc.titleFactors associated with the under-representation of women in medical leadership in Nairobi County Kenya: a mixed method study
dc.typeThesis
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MBA-HCM Theses and Dissertations (2023)