Who Will Do All These if I am Not Around? Social Capital and Well-being of Inpatients

• In Event: 2184 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 10. Social Networks, Social Support, and Social Capital

Abstract

Social capital—social networks and the resources that emanate from them— is a crucial determinant of health and well-being. In many developing countries, these networks influence health-related decisions and health behaviours. However, minimal attention has been paid to the nuances of how some of these social ties shape on direct healthcare delivery. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 19 participants, including five health professionals and 14 relatives and close friends of inpatients in three public health facilities in Ashanti region in Ghana, this paper examines the influence of tight-knit association—bonding social capital, on healthcare delivery for inpatients. The findings indicated that relatives and close friends of inpatients were a critical source of instrumental support such as meals, laundry services, running errands and financial assistance as well as emotional support. These functions—that were both ‘expected’ and ‘encouraged’— reduced the burden on the health facilities, which apparently had limited resources to offer adequate care. Despite their invaluable contribution, the tight-knit relationships of inpatients sometimes inadvertently obstructed efficient healthcare delivery through actions such as extension of ‘unapproved’ alternative care to patients. Moreover, the process of contributing towards health and well-being of the sick exposed the relatives to health risks due to poor living conditions. The paper argues that a defined and a befitting role must be devised for at least the immediate social relations of inpatients to ameliorate the positive effects of bonding social capital on healthcare delivery.

Authors

• Padmore Adusei Amoah, Lingnan University, Hong Kong

• Adwoa Owusuaa Koduah, Polytechnic University of Hong Kong

• Razak Mohammed Gyasi, Lingnan University