Rural women farmers of Sub-Saharan Africa are among the most economically disadvantaged in the world and are often expected to support themselves and their families virtually independently. These women farmers produce 80% of Africa's food, and perform the overwhelming majority of processing, harvesting and food preparation tasks, in addition to gathering wood and carrying water. Not surprisingly, their health and nutrition status frequently reflect this burden. The purpose of this study was to explore the link of critical societal deprivation - the lack of food security - with that of gender inequity and its impact on women's health among these women farmers.
An extensive literature review was conducted on the issues of food security and gender, food security and health, and gender and health. What emerged was that there are few published works that simultaneously address all three issues. The extant literature clearly reflects the prevailing emphasis on the reproductive aspects of women's health, and includes little information addressing broader definitions of health and well-being. Conspicuously underrepresented in the literature is the issue of how women's health is impacted by food security and gender issues, especially the impact that agricultural work burden has on women's overall health. A myriad of adverse occupational and environmental factors affect women who are primarily occupied in subsistence farming, including injuries, tropical diseases, toxic exposures, and mental illness. These and other consequences of subsistence farming for rural women in Sub-Saharan Africa must be considered in discussions of women's health in the region.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: (1) recognize the extent of the work performed by subsistence women food farmers in the Sub-Saharan African region; (2) identify the various health consequences related to gender inequities and the food securing activities of the women; (3) integrate these consequences of subsistence farming in discussions of women's health in the region.
Keywords: Food Security, Gender
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.