Exploring the Existing Cultural Practices that Influence Maasai Women’s Access to Social Security for Health in Kajiado West Sub-County

Even though culture is an important social regulator, it has become necessary to investigate the extent to which Maasai women's social security for health is influenced by cultural practices. The study's goal was to discover the link between social health security and Maasai cultural practises that include patriarchy, polygyny, early/child marriage, moral norms, religious practices, traditional medicine, and female genital mutilation. Feminist theory and systems theory served as the theoretical foundation for the research on how cultural practices influenced Maasai women's social security. The study employed a mixed- method sequential explanatory design and the intended respondents consisted of Maasai women of Kajiado West Sub County. According to Yamane formula, 398 women made up the sample size. Data collection methods included focus groups, questionnaires, and interview guides. Purposive sampling was used to select the respondents from the five wards in the Sub- County. Quantitative data was analysed using quantitative techniques with the help of SPSS V.22.0 to generate simple descriptive statistical results in the form of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was subjected to content analysis. The study discovered that cultural practices had an impact on the social health security of Maasai women. According to study findings, cultural practices impacted Maasai women's social health security in a variety of ways. Cultural shifts and continuity from a variety of perspectives would aid in the elimination of some of these harmful practices and the strengthening of new, beneficial ones. Cultural practices and women's social security for health in Kajiado West Sub-County have a statistically significant inverse relationship. Access to health care is a fundamental human right that deserves to be prioritized by government structures, and all women of all ages ought to have access to health care. Through its existing structures, the government should support feminist efforts to provide access to health care. The study ought to tackle issues affecting women's welfare such as health, decision-making, and economic empowerment, which will contribute to improving access to social health insurance. The research also sheds light on issues in family social work, gender interventions, and community health social work. Keywords: Culture, Cultural Practices, Maasai Women, Social Health Security