A three-dimensional perspective on factors influencing the career advancement of women in the Kenyan health sector

Purpose This paper aims to explore the perspectives of Kenyan women in middle and senior management in a variety of health organizations to understand how women navigate organizational cultures and hierarchies with a view to addressing their underrepresentation in health leadership. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology was adopted for the study to capture nuances and rich detail of the women’s experiences. Three focus group discussions comprising 43 participants from the nongovernmental organization, private and public sectors were held in three regions to capture a geographic and sectoral variety of women’s voices. Structured thematic analysis identified patterns, themes and insights on the role of individual, organizational and societal elements in women’s career advancement. Findings The findings revealed a strong socio-cultural influence on individual and organizational factors that shape women’s career advancement. Individual, organizational and societal factors are closely interrelated. A three-dimensional model was developed to explain the interaction of three categories of factors. Research limitations/implications The study sample was limited to available and willing participants of a national health sector network. The unique organizational contexts were obscured by the focus group approach. An intersectional lens is recommended to investigate how multiple dimensions of women’s identities shape their leadership trajectories. Practical implications Organizational policies need to promote inclusion, equity and accountability while organizational culture and leadership require transformative change. Originality/value This study presents a nuanced analysis of the organizational context to better inform organizational change efforts directed towards addressing the health leadership gender gap.