Abstract
South Africa has reached a medium level of human development and has a heterogeneous situation with respect to disaster risk management. In this article, a preliminary assessment of the gender aspects of disaster vulnerability and fatalities is presented. The United Nations, the Health Systems Trust and Statistics South Africa were used as data sources for the following gender-segregated values: the life expectancy at birth, unemployment rates, the human development index values, the maternal mortality rates and the number of deaths from unnatural and non-natural causes. The relevant inequality indices were then calculated and used to draw conclusions regarding the gender aspects of disaster risk management in South Africa. Results of the calculations indicate that between 1980 and 2011 men were 10% more vulnerable with respect to their health status. However, the gender differences have been decreasing in recent years. Access of women to healthcare is decreasing with time, potentially decreasing the recovery potential of whole families. Women are more economically vulnerable than men in South Africa, as they are 16.3% – 33% more likely to be unemployed than men. Educational status of both genders in South Africa is comparable based on literacy and enrolment rates at primary and secondary level. On the other hand, men are five times more likely to suffer fatal injuries during disasters.
Highlights
South Africa’s total population reached 50.46 million in 2011, and is predicted to grow by 0.5% per annum between 2010 and 2015 (United Nations Statistical Indicators 2012)
The country currently ranks 14th globally for men and 18th for women with respect to the life expectancy at birth (United Nations Statistical Indicators 2012). Even though it has reached a medium level of human development (Human Development Index [human development index (HDI)]) (UNHDI 2012), South Africa still ranks among the bottom 30 nations globally with respect to the population’s ability to provide satisfactory food and shelter at the household level (The Legatum Prosperity Index 2011)
Food security and sufficient shelter will not be available to a large segment of the South Africa population, indicating that the South African population could potentially be highly vulnerable to disasters
Summary
South Africa’s total population reached 50.46 million in 2011, and is predicted to grow by 0.5% per annum between 2010 and 2015 (United Nations Statistical Indicators 2012). The country currently ranks 14th globally for men and 18th for women with respect to the life expectancy at birth (United Nations Statistical Indicators 2012) Even though it has reached a medium level of human development (Human Development Index [HDI]) (UNHDI 2012), South Africa still ranks among the bottom 30 nations globally with respect to the population’s ability to provide satisfactory food and shelter at the household level (The Legatum Prosperity Index 2011). Maleheaded households have a 28% probability of being poor whilst the figure almost doubles, at 48%, for their female-headed counterparts (South African Regional Poverty Network 2011) This is alarming as savings at the household level are low and estimated at 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP) (The Legatum Prosperity Index 2011). Food security and sufficient shelter will not be available to a large segment of the South Africa population, indicating that the South African population could potentially be highly vulnerable to disasters
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