Social capital and health in the least developed countries: A critical review of the literature and implications for a future research agenda

Research on the linkage between social capital and health has grown exponentially in recent years; however, there is a dearth of evidence from resource-poor countries. This review provides a critical analysis of the literature on social capital and health in the least developed countries (LDCs), and suggests future research directions for social capital and health in the developing world. Of the 14 studies reviewed, 12 took place in Africa and two in South Asia. All used cross-sectional study designs, including five qualitative and nine quantitative studies. The literature reviewed suggests that social capital is an important factor for improving health in resource-poor settings; however, more research is needed in order to elucidate the mechanisms through which social capital affects health in the developing world.