Family health clinics as a source of social capital.

PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which Family Health Clinics (FHCs) contribute to the formation of social capital among mothers, and determine whether it is influenced by socioeconomic factors. In FHCs, social capital can be gained by relationships between mothers (bonding social capital), by relationships between mothers and FHCs team, or between mothers of different origins/culture (bridging social capital) and health services institutional bodies (linking social capital).

DESIGN: This is a mixed method study. For the quantitative part, data were collected from 673 mothers using a questionnaire. The qualitative part was conducted with six focus groups.

RESULTS: The FHC constitutes a source of social capital in all dimensions. Bridging social capital was most prominent and is formed by interactions between mothers and FHC nurses. The factors that explain the formation of social capital were: mothers' spoken language being Arabic, participation in group training, and lower level of education. The focus groups revealed that participation in group training increased the social capital. Mothers noted that FHC nurses supplied updated information about their children's care. Regarding linking social capital, mothers perceive FHC nurses as mediators between them and the local and national health services.

CONCLUSIONS: FHC clinics are a source for gaining social capital. The FHC services should be adapted to mother's needs.

IMPLICATIONS: FHC nurses should try to create conditions for mothers to meet to create bonding social capital, relate to mother's needs for the creation of bridging social capital, and provide culturally adapted care for the formation of linking social capital.