Women In Rural Households Research Articles

Determinants of nutrition security status of women in rural households in Northwest Ethiopia

The nutrition security of women is critically important for society’s well-being. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the determinants of the nutrition security status of rural women in Northwest Ethiopia. Data collected from rural women in 197 randomly selected households were analyzed using a binary logit regression model. The results show that 72.6% of the women are nutritionally insecure. The determinants that significantly affect nutrition security status are family size (a negative effect), women’s daily feed frequency, milk consumption, feeding habits of fruits and vegetables, feeding habits of animal products, and women empowerment (all positive effects). The weight, height, and BMI of nutritionally insecure women were significantly lower than those of nutritionally secure women. These findings reveal the need for government and other stakeholders’ interventions to increase access to nutritious food products and to provide training on feeding culture and dietary diversity to women. The findings of this study can help the Government of Ethiopia to focus on the significant determinants to achieve its National Development Priorities focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, particularly Goals 2, 3, and 5.

Study of the Impact of Rural Land Transfer on the Status of Women in Rural Households

While the status of rural women in the family has undergone changes, rural land transfer has brought about transformations in both rural production and daily life. This paper adopts the perspective of rural land transfer, follows the research track of Marx and Engels’s theory of women, and based on the theoretical research of the changes in the status of modern women in the family, constructs a framework for analyzing the status of women in rural families. Drawing on the data from the 2014 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS2014), this article utilizes OLS (Ordinary Least Square) and ordered logit models to explore the impact of rural land transfer on the status of women in rural households. The study reveals the following findings: Initially, rural land transfer-out improves women’s household decision-making power and enhances the status of women in rural households. The reliability of these results is further confirmed through robustness tests and endogeneity discussions. Secondly, the heterogeneity analysis indicates that the transfer of agricultural land promotes the status of women in rural households in nonmajor grain-producing areas more than women in major grain-producing areas. The reason is that women in major grain-producing areas lack off-farm employment opportunities compared with women in non-major grain-producing areas and the main grain producing areas may have a strong patriarchal cultural atmosphere. Thirdly, the analysis of mechanisms indicates that rural land transfer-out improves the status of women in rural households by augmenting their independent income. Conversely, rural land transfer-in increases women’s private labor and decreases their independent income without promoting their family status. The study sheds light on rural women’s empowerment, the improvement of intra-household bargaining power, and the comprehensive development of rural women. The conclusion of this paper provides a new understanding and some recommendations for us to explore the change of rural women’s status in the family.

Prediction of consumers refill frequency of LPG: A study using explainable machine learning

Launched in 2016, the PMUY Programme of the Government of India aimed to provide 8 crore LPG connections to women in rural households over four years. After acquiring a new connection, some households appeared uninterested in ordering subsequent subsidized LPG refills, impacting programme's sustainability, and targeting strategy. We propose a prediction model using “Explainable Machine Learning” to anticipate the beneficiaries' refill frequency with a view to improving LPG-refills and social targeting. In this paper, we suggest an enhanced stacked SVM (ISS) model for classification, which is contrasted with state-of-art ML models: Random Forest (RF), SVM-RBF, Naive Bayes (NB), and Decision Tree (C5.0). Some of the performance matrices that are used to evaluate the models include accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Cohen's Kappa statistics, Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC), and area under the curve (AUC). The proposed approach, which was validated with 10-fold cross validation, produced the best overall accuracies for data splits of 50–50, 66–34, and 80–20. The "Explainable AI (XAI)" model has also been used to describe how models and features interact, and to discuss the importance of features and their contributions to prediction. The recommended XAI will aid in efficient “beneficiary targeting” and “policy interventions”.

Multidimensional relative poverty of rural women: Measurement, dynamics, and influencing factors in China.

BackgroundChina has eliminated absolute poverty; however, relative poverty still exists. Specifically, the characteristic group of rural women is affected by traditional gender concepts and behavioral norms, and rural women are often relatively deprived of economics, rights, abilities, and information.ObjectiveTherefore, studying their relative poverty is crucial for realizing the overall development of China and the shared prosperity of farmers.MethodsThis study utilizes the multidimensional poverty theory to construct an analytical framework for the multidimensional relative poverty of rural households using the Alkire-Foster multidimensional measurement method and the tracking survey data of the “China Family Tracking Survey” from 2010 to 2016. From the “individual perspective,” the six dimensions of economy, health, humanities, spiritual life, social relations, and rights are used to measure and compare the relative poverty of women and men in rural households in China.ResultsThe results showed that the relative poverty of women in rural households is extensive and broader, especially in the economic, humanities, and rights dimensions, and is much higher than that of men. Education level, physical health, ideology, and family status are the primary factors affecting the multidimensional relative poverty of women.ConclusionThis study finds that the relative poverty of rural women exists within the family and it is multi-dimensional. This finding provides a reference for promoting well-rounded human development and achieving common prosperity for everyone.

Gender and Other Vulnerabilities to Water–Energy Accessibility in Rural Households of Katsina State, Northern Nigeria

Water and energy are essential resources for all people. However, despite the availability of sufficient water and energy resources, men and women continue to be subject to unequal rights to both water and energy in terms of access, allocation, gathering, and quality of resources. Socio-economic parameters, which include gender, income, and location, are determinant factors of water and cooking energy accessibility in this study. The research aims to assess the accessibility of water and cooking fuels across female-headed households, and evaluate particular vulnerabilities and challenges faced by women and children in rural areas of Katsina State in circumstances of water and energy insecurities. A study involving a questionnaire covering 550 rural households across 11 areas in Katsina State, north-western Nigeria, was conducted. A Pearson product correlation analysis was performed to measure the strength of association between the respondents educational level and income. A chi-square test of independence was carried out to measure the degree of dependence of the households’ resources accessibility. The authors assessed the disproportionate threats and health risks linked to fetching water and gathering of fuel resources. The research findings indicate that water and energy uncertainty among women in rural households is due to unequal responsibilities associated with water- and energy-related household duties that are potentially linked to disadvantages for females, including violence, security threats, diseases, and disempowerment. To address these challenges, water and energy interventions, and important pathways for beneficial change, are proposed for rural regions in sub-Saharan Africa. This should lead to more gender equity associated with water and energy.

Anemia and intestinal parasites in farmers and family members and sheep in two agro-ecological zones in Senegal

The burden of anemia in Senegal is high, particularly in children and women in rural households. The main objectives of the study reported here were (i) to measure and compare the prevalence of anemia and intestinal parasitic infections in farmers and family members and sheep in two agro-ecological zones in Senegal and (ii) to examine the association between anemia and age or sex in farmers and family members. The study was conducted in Mpal (250 km from Dakar, the capital city) and Diawara (700 km from Dakar, a remote location near the Malian border). In humans, the prevalence of anemia was higher in Diawara (64/86 = 74%), compared to Mpal (13/29 = 45%) (p < 0.01). Using logistic regression, the odds of anemia were 20.3, 5.7, and 3.2 times higher in children 1–4 years old, children 5–12 years-old, and teenagers 13–19 years old, respectively, compared to adults 20–60 years old, after controlling for study site and sex (p < 0.05). In Diawara, the odds of anemia were 2.9 times higher in women, compared to men, after controlling for age (p = 0.06). The prevalence of intestinal parasites (Giardia sp.) was the same (7%) at both locations. In sheep, the prevalence of low packed cell volume (PCV) and low body condition was higher in Diawara (48/60 = 60% and 11/60 = 18%, respectively), compared to Mpal (23/46 = 50% and 0/46 = 0%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Clinical anemia was associated (p < 0.01) with low PCV and a positive diagnosis of H. contortus. Overall, the prevalence of anemia was higher in farmers and family members and owned sheep in Diawara. In addition, anemia was more common in children and women, an indication that intra-household food allocation may be regulated in favor of men and older age groups. The consequences of livestock affected with anemia and undernutrition can be significant. High morbidity and mortality in livestock can lead to low household income, inadequate household access to and individual consumption of animal source foods, and subsequent risk of anemia in children and women in rural households in Senegal.

Constraints Faced by Self-help Groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission in Uttarakhand State

After independence the main agenda for development of society was poverty alleviation. 26.1% of the total population lives below poverty line. Sustainability and improvement in the life of rural people is the main agenda of all developmental programmes. During that time all the development programmes implemented by the government were unified into one self employment programme referred to as Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY). The Ministry of Rural Development was determined to restructure the continuing SGSY into National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). The main strategy was to encourage women in rural households to be part of Self-Help Group. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) was launched in June 2011. The constraints were the restrictions SHG women members face in performing various functions in the SHGs. For the study purpose the interview schedule was prepared, women member (n=280) and government officials (n=20) were asked about the various constraints being faced by them. Based on the findings of the study, various constraints were Administrative constraints (majority of the respondents reported less number of working staff as a major constraint), Social constraints (reluctance of the members to take leadership role was the main constraint reported by SHG members), Empowering constraints (lack of freedom to take decisions and lack of equal treatment were reported as the major constraints), Management constraints (lack of space was the major constraint) and marketing constraints (transportation problems and lack of market information were reported as the major constraints).

Incomplete transitions to clean household energy reinforce gender inequality by lowering women’s respiratory health and household labour productivity

Abstract India has over 800 million people without access to clean cooking fuel. A well-known, but under-researched aspect of poor access to clean energy is its cost on woman’s health and well being. Here we use the nationally representative India Human Development Survey, tracking the same set of households from 2005 to 2011, to quantify the gender-related health and time-saving benefits of a shift in a household’s fuel and stove use patterns. We show that across India, the predicted probabilities of cough in non-smoking women are 30%-60% higher than non-smoking men in solid-fuel using households, but that a complete transition from solid fuels to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking reduces this gap to only 3%. Exclusive use of LPG is also accompanied by reduced cooking time (~37 min) and less time for collecting fuels (~24 min) in rural households, together saving up to an hour in demands on women’s labour each day. We also find electrification reduces the probability of developing cough by about 35–50% in non-smoking men and women across both rural and urban households, and help close the gap between men and women in rural households. Despite clean energy being a long-held policy goal of Indian governments, between 2005 and 2011, only 9% of households made a complete transition to clean energy, and 16.4% made a partial transition. We suggest that government efforts in India, and elsewhere, should focus on improving affordability, supply and reliability of clean fuels in enabling a complete household energy transition and help address key issues in gender inequality.

Drudgery reduction, physical activity and energy requirements in rural livelihoods

Low and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa have been witnessing a process of rural transformation, characterised by rising agricultural productivity, commercialisation of agriculture, improved infrastructure and access to services, over several decades. However, there is little empirical evidence on how this transformation process has affected the patterns and intensity of physical activity and time use in rural livelihoods. The lack of empirical evidence can be attributed to the constraints in accurate measurement of physical activity and energy expenditure in the context of free-living populations. Using wearable accelerometry devices, we develop robust energy expenditure profiles for men and women in rural households for two case studies in India and Ghana. An innovative feature of this study is the integration of data on energy expenditure (derived from accelerometers) with data on time-use, which has hitherto not been feasible in observational studies of rural populations. Using the data on physical activity, energy expenditure and time use from the case studies, we examine the impact of drudgery reduction- the substitution of less intense for more intense activities – on energy requirements for men and women in rural households. Our results show that drudgery reduction can have large effects on human energy (calorie) requirements, with an hour of drudgery reduction reducing energy requirements by 11–22 % for men and 13–17 % for women in Ghana and India. There are significant gender differences in energy expenditure patterns and drudgery reduction effects vary by socio-demographic characteristics and endowments of households. Our results suggest that drudgery reduction can offer rural households an important route to improved nutritional status. At the same time, drudgery reduction can lead to increased incidence of overweight and obesity for some segments of the population. The design of development interventions needs to explicitly consider the effects on nutrition and well-being through the energy expenditure dimension.

Drinking water quality and handling practices among women in rural households of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

Diarrheal diseases associated with inadequate supply of potable water are the leading causes of mortality among children under five years in developing countries. In Nigeria, women are the water managers in most households. However, there is dearth of information on the effect of women’s handling practices on drinking water quality. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the drinking water quality and handling practices among women in selected rural households in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Paired drinking water samples from available sources and Household Storage Containers (HSC) were assessed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. The data obtained were compared with the WHO guideline limits. Water samples with 0, 1-10, 11-50 and &gt; 50 E. coli/100 mL were graded as A, B, C, and D corresponding to excellent, acceptable, unacceptable, and grossly polluted quality, respectively. Pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. A 30-point scale was used to assess water handling practices. Handling practice scores greater or equal to mean handling practice score were grouped into good and those less than that were grouped into bad handling practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and One-way ANOVA at α = 0.05. The results showed physico-chemical parameters for both sources and households within WHO guideline limits. The mean total coliform counts for all sources and household containers exceeded permissible limits. E. coli was not detected in harvested rain water while counts for borehole was 10.2 ±2.2 (A) and for stream sources was 44.6±33.3 EC/100 mL (B); drinking water stored in HSC had 36.8±32.3 (A) EC/100 mL, borehole had 62.31±33.2 (C) and stream had 30.00±33.2 (B). Mean handling practice score was 19.4+6.6. Majority (60.0%) practiced some water handling technique. Drinking water from assessed sources was of poor microbial quality and it significantly deteriorated when stored in household storage containers. Therefore, there is a need to improve the microbial quality of drinking water at sources and household level through the supply of simple, acceptable, low-cost treatment methods and hygiene education.

ASSESSMENT OF GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PRODUCTIVITY AMONG RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN SOUTH WEST, NIGERIA

Increase in productivity across gender line is one of the necessary conditions for sustainable level of development in the rural areas. This study assessed the differences in productivity of men and women in rural households in Southwest, Nigeria. Average and marginal productivity of women and men were assessed. Gender-disaggregated data were obtained through structured questionnaires. Using multi stage sampling approach, a total of 197 and 148 men and women rural households were randomly sampled. Cobb Douglas production function was used to analyse differentials in productivity between women and men. The results showed that women have access to marginal and small pieces of land. Men with access to improved technology have significantly (p &lt; 0.05) higher productivity per unit of most of the inputs available. Also, the result indicates that the estimated average productivities of women are significantly lower than those of men. Furthermore, ownership of land has a significant positive influence on the estimated productivity of men more than women. Education which is another gender factor and a measure of human asset and managerial capacity significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased the productivity of men (β = 0.11, t = 3.04) and women (β = 0.07, t = 3.86). In order to raise productivity and impacts development agenda for the rural sector, it would be better for women to keep the variable resource in surplus rather than utilizing it in a fixed resource contrary to what is obtainable for men.

Awareness of the health implications of use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P &lt; 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.

Awareness of the health implications of use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract Various health challenges and fatalities in rural communities of most developing countries of the world have been traceable to the unabated use of biomass energy sources. We therefore assessed the awareness of the health implications of the use of biomass energy sources among women in rural households of Jigawa State. Multistage sampling procedure was used to collect data from 120 respondents using structured questionnaires. Data were collected on respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, types of biomass used, information sources on the health implications from use of biomass energy sources, awareness of the health implications and constraints to the use of alternatives to biomass. Data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Majority of the respondents (78.3 %) were below 40 years of age with a mean age of 30 ± 2.02 years. Majority were married (90.8 %), Muslims (100 %), involved in agro-processing (65.8 %), had no formal education (73.3 %), and earned not more than ₦10, 000 (90.8 %) with mean household size of 9 members. Wood (100 %) and charcoal (100 %) were the dominant biomass energy sources used. Respondents’ main source of information on the health implications of the use of biomass were radio (64.2 %) and extension agents (54.2 %). Awareness level of the health implications from the use of biomass energy sources was fairly high (51.7 %). High cost of the alternatives, scarcity of refilling points and alternatives and lack of capital were the main hindrances to the use of the alternatives to biomass energy sources. The result on the inferential statistics revealed that a significant association existed between education (χ2 = 6.08; P &lt; 0.05) and awareness of health implications from the use of biomass. Efforts should be made to sensitize women on the health implications resulting from the use of biomass. Alternatives should be made available and affordable to encourage a switch from biomass energy sources thereby reducing the fatalities that may result from its continual use.

Review on Gender and Poverty, Gender Inequality in Land Tenure, Violence Against Woman and Women Empowerment Analysis: Evidence in Benin with Survey Data

Inequalities in opportunities and rights between women and men have occupied many researchers over the last two decades. This study reviews literature on (i) gender and poverty, (ii) inequalities in land rights between women and men and their implications for the economic and social development of rural areas in developing countries, and (iii) violence against women in the rural population. World Bank survey data (3507 rural households) were used to analyze women's perceptions of agricultural land rights and violence against women in Benin. The Poisson model is adopted to investigate the determinants of physical violence against women in rural households in Benin. The results show that women are more vulnerable to poverty than men. Women are disadvantaged in access to productive assets such as access to credit and arable land, education, labor market, control of incomes earned in households, and are excluded in decision-making in households and institutions. The results also highlight that women in rural areas do not have access to land and do not participate in land management decisions. Based on the Poisson model, the results show that restrictions imposed on women by their spouses significantly increase the number of physical violence against women in households. Moreover, the results suggest also that an increase in the economic value of assets owned by women significantly reduces the incidence of physical violence against women in households. These results suggest that implementing development actions to increase incomes and empowerment women helps to reduce poverty, increases food security, reduces violence against women, and improves household welfare.

Equality of women in rural household at different environmental geography

The research aimed to understanding the equality of women in rural households with environmental differences geography. Research location is in Brayut and Kaliadem, village with environmental differences geograhpy. Data were collected by structured interview structured interview data were analyzed descriptively quantitatively by using frequency tables, and descriptive qualitative data analysis in-depth interviews.The results showed, Brayut has a geography conducive environment characteristics, relatively flat, dominated wetland, better accessibility, land use competition tighter and more varied economic activities. Kaliadem geography has less conducive environment, dominated by dry land scattered with steep to very steep slope, accessibility is not good, the whole household livelihood from agriculture, livestock, and utilize the resources around. On the whole household outpouring of women's time for household activities more. Kaliadem outpouring husband's time to work on the most wealthy households and the outpouring of the time most women to work in poorer households. Household decision-making activities both hamlets compared dominant role of women over the role of men. Decision-making on agriculture and livestock in the men's role more prominent Brayut compared women, and in Kaliadem women and men have a balanced role. Investment activity is more prominent in Brayut. The involvement of women in public life does not necessarily affect the role of women in decision making and domestic public domain unless decisions on household activities.

Empowerment and Agricultural Production: Evidence from Rural Households in Niger

Niger is a landlocked Sahelian country, two-thirds of which is in the Sahara desert, with only one-eighth of the land considered arable. Nevertheless, more than 90 percent of Niger’s labor force is employed in agriculture, which is predominantly subsistence oriented. Since the great famines of the 1970s and 1980s, the country has pursued agrarian intensification through technological change to address challenges to the food security situation. However, this approach has failed to recognize that the main characteristic of the Sahelian part of West Africa is the intricate complexity of the social, environmental, and economic dimensions that differentially affect male and female rural dwellers. One example is the patrilineal tenure system, which under increased population pressure has led to the exclusion of women and youth from agriculture in some areas. The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) indicates that access to land is one important dimension of empowerment. In order to assess the role of empowerment in agricultural production, we use new household- and individual-level WEAI data from Niger and regression analysis. Our results show that empowerment is important for agricultural production and that households in which adult individuals are more empowered are more productive. This means that other and possibly more effective pathways to agrarian intensification exist and important agricultural productivity gains could be made by empowering men and women in rural households.

Bringing ‘invisible’ side activities to light. A case study of rural female entrepreneurs in the Veenkoloniën, the Netherlands

Over the past 20 years, rural areas in Western societies have transformed from a production to a consumption space. Much research on rural diversification and revitalization has focused on farmers and their wives. However, it is useful to examine side activities run by non-farm women which have slowly emerged in the last few years. In view of discussions about rural decline, the value of such activities should be looked at in a new light. Although these activities may not significantly reverse unemployment figures, they have the potential to provide the social and emotional ‘glue’ to motivate a household to remain in declining areas as small-scale economic activities contribute to a better quality of life and a higher level of well-being. In this article we draw on the personal stories of women who undertake side activities in the Veenkoloniën, the Netherlands. We explore the factors that enable these women to start a side activity and the related organizational and emotional struggles they face while running such activities within the perimeter of their home. We further highlight the importance of side activities for the empowerment of women in rural households.

Nutrient Composition of Traditional Foods and Their Contribution to Energy and Nutrient Intakes of Children and Women in Rural Households in Igbo Culture Area

2 Abstract: Micronutrient deficiency, namely: vitamin A, iron, iodine, zinc and burden of chronic diseases are prevalent. Eight communities selected from four States were used for this study. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, nutrient composition and food intakes were used to ascertain use of local foods by households. Nutrient analysis on food recipes was carried out for all dishes collected from the field survey. Two communities out of the eight were randomly selected for detailed weighed food intake study which was done on a sub-sample to determine contribution of traditional foods. Results revealed that most of the recipes had reasonable energy content, at least over 90% of the energy was contributed to the diet of respondents from traditional foods. Moisture content was high and ranged from 44.3% in bambara fufu to 76% in palm nut soup/sauces. Protein content ranged from 0.2% in dried cassava fufu to 14.6% in plain bambara fufu. The recipes had reasonable nutrient content but were low in the micronutrients that were of public health importance, namely; iron, zinc and folic acid. Intakes of fruits and vegetables were low in these communities. In Anambra State, nuts and seeds made substantial contribution to energy, protein, calcium and iron while in Enugu State, legumes and cereals contributed to energy, protein, calcium and iron intakes. Further more, the bulk of the ascorbic acid came from vegetables in Anambra State (34-62%) while in Enugu State the ascorbic acid came from starchy roots and tubers (51-58%). The red palm oil (RPO) used in preparing many traditional dishes was the major source of vitamin A in the diet of the Igbo culture area. It contributed 70 - 85% of the vitamin A. Although traditional foods/diet made substantial contribution to the nutrient intakes of the populations studied, the results showed that in almost all the age groups low intakes of energy, calcium, riboflavin and niacin were observed. Low intakes were recorded more for children 6 - 12 years of age. Interventions to solve these problems must consider these issues in order to make a significant impact.

Women's work status and their time use pattern in rural households of Haryana

The work pattern of rural women revolves around a variety of jobs in the home, farm and livestock management. The National perspective Plan (1988) rightly pooints out, ‘For the majority of the women in the country, there is more work than wages, more load titan capacity and more compulsion than choice.’Studies on time utilization pattern (work load) of men and women in rural households in India, though few, indicate that rural women work longer hours than men. A 14–16 h working day is common in certain areas even among pregnant women. Review of the literature however, reveals major gaps in information especially pertaining to work status of rural women and how the time use pattern (workload) varies with their work status and/or agricultural season. The present study was therefore, an attempt in this direction. More specifically, the objectives of the study were:(a) to study time allocation pattern of rural women in work, rest, leisure and sleep and(b) to study the time utilization pattern in various categories of work according to women's work status and agricultural season.

Women, Water, And Sanitation: Household Behavioral Patterns In Two Egyptian Villages

Abstract Understanding the behavior patterns of women in rural households regarding water and sanitation may be the key to solving the problem of why improvements in facilities may not be accompanied by a reduction in disease prevalence. An interdisciplinary team surveyed 312 households in two Egyp tian delta villages, examining46 of them in depth, with participant observation. Their patterns of storing water, and its use for drinking, cooking, washing, animal rearing and waste disposal are rooted in the woman's beliefs regarding cleanliness and what enhances the health and well-being of herfamily The local environment of surface and groundwater availability, quality andavailable drainage affect her choices. Otherfactors include local government institutions, available technology, information and educational facilities. time and energy expended on various practices, and social values held by the women and the community The women suggest practical solutions for their water and sanitation problems such as c...