Impact of women's work on maternal and child nutrition

Abstract

The impact of women's participation in economic activity on nutrition status of the mother and her preschool‐age children was examined in 309 rural women selected by purposive sampling. Time spent on housework, child care, and economic activity on a typical day was ascertained by recall of time use on the previous day. Dietary intake was estimated by recall method. Nutrition status was assessed by anthropometry and clinical deficiency signs. In a sub‐sample finger‐prick blood was examined for haemoglobin and riboflavin status. The data were collected in three seasons. The effects of season and land holding as well as occupation were also examined. Malnutrition was widespread in both the mothers and the children. The time saved by house wives not engaged in economic activity was not adequately reflected in time devoted to child care. Minor influences of land holding, season, and mother's occupation on diet and nutrition of mothers and children were seen but the differences in most cases were statistically not significant. Working mothers and their children tended to show higher prevalence of signs of B‐complex deficiency than housewives and their children. Seasonal effects on vitamin deficiency signs were seen in children.