Carrying water may be a major contributor to disability from musculoskeletal disorders in low income countries: a cross-sectional survey in South Africa, Ghana and Vietnam.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Sustainable Development Goals include commitments to end poverty, and promote education for all, gender equality, the availability of water and decent work for all. An important constraint is the fact that each day, many millions of women and children, and much less frequently men, carry their household's water home from off-plot sources. The burden of fetching water exacerbates gender inequality by keeping women out of education and paid employment. Despite speculation about the potential health impacts of fetching water, there is very little empirical evidence. We report the first large study of the health impacts of carrying water on women and children.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in South Africa, Ghana and Vietnam during 2012. It investi

SUBMITTER: Geere JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5825974 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature