Women, work, and nutrition in Nigeria
Mebrahtu, S.
Women and health in Africa: 89-105
1991
Document Number: 323733
A study is made of the interrelations between women's work and nutrition in developing countries. Based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out in 1987 in three Yoruba villages and involving interviews with 44 women, the factors considered are social and demographic characteristics; household interaction; the demands of farm work on women's labour, time and energy; food consumption; and efforts to prevent infectious diseases. Following a review of the general status of knowledge on the subject, the article considers decision making and resource allocation in the household, in an attempt to localize women's power. This section includes a discussion of the importance of mutual support networks and women's participation in community organizations. It then describes women's work in trading, farming and housekeeping in some detail, and analyses the impact of their workloads. The final section summarizes women's health and nutritional status. The conclusion highlights the importance of recognizing women's health needs as an integral part of both productive and reproductive household functions, and taking into account women's roles as economic producers. Future research and development programmes on women's health and nutrition should take a broad perspective incorporating political, economic, behavioural, agricultural and health issues.