Abstract
Intricacies between women and water are central to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women empowerment is a key driver in ending hunger and poverty as well as improve water security the study sought to identify and provide pathways through which female-headed households were water insecure in South Africa. Secondary data collected during the 2016 General Household Survey (GHS) was utilised, with a sample of 5928 female-headed households. Principal Component Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling were used to analyse the data. The results show dynamic relationships between water characteristics and water treatment. There were also associations between water access and wealth status of the female-headed households. Association was also found between water access and water treatment as well as between wealth status and water treatment. The study concludes that there are dynamic relationships in water insecurity (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) for female-headed households in South Africa. The study recommends that a multi-prong approach is required in tackling exposures, sensitivities and adaptive capacities to water insecurity. This should include capacity–building and empowering women for wealth generation, improve access to water treatment equipment as well as prioritising improvement of infrastructure that brings piped and safe water to female-headed households.
Highlights
The Global Risk Report identifies water crises having the fourth most significant societal impact after weapons of mass destruction, climate change and extreme weather events, ahead of natural disasters [1]
Three factors were obtained from the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), namely in South Africa
Three factors were obtained from the PCA, water characteristics, water access and household age, based on the loading of each factor
Summary
The Global Risk Report identifies water crises having the fourth most significant societal impact after weapons of mass destruction, climate change and extreme weather events, ahead of natural disasters [1]. SDG 5 avers to end barriers preventing women and girls from realising their full potential [5]. In achieving both SDGs 5 and 6, it is peculiar that women and girls are responsible in providing water security. A report by UN Women [6] identifies that women are central in water security, but across all the 17 SDGs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
