Navigation
Addressing the interaction between food insecurity, depression risk and informal work: Findings of a cross-sectional survey among informal women workers with young children in South Africa
In this 2021 study, surveys and interviews were carried out with 265 informal women workers in South Africa with the intention of analyzing work conditions and settings, food security and risk of depression among these working women with young children (0-3 years old). One-third of working women in South Africa are in informal work, which is believed to be linked with socioeconomic vulnerability. The types of works the participants had were domestic work or home-based work. Most were informal traders, but others included informal employees and own account workers. Many of the mothers (56.2%) earned between US$70-200 per month, meanwhile some earned less than $70/month and a few (14%) brought in over $200 per month. This study discovered that income was related with food insecurity among these women: detection of severe food insecurity was significantly higher among those with the lowest income relative to the highest earners. Many of the subjects experienced either mild (14.3%), moderate (27.2%), or severe (16%) food insecurity. Horwood et al. also found that women who received financial support from the baby’s father were more likely to be food insecure. Another significant relationship was identified between household food insecurity and depression risk. The risk of depression, according to Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scores, was 8.3% among the sample. Similar rates were seen for postnatal women and mothers with older children. The calculated depression risk was low compared to previous estimates in South Africa, which suggests that these informal workers possess high resilience levels. But the women with low incomes and increased odds of food insecurity remain vulnerable, possibly leading to worsening of maternal health. Interventions that help enhance social protection, health service access, and ensure safe childcare in the workplace are encouraged. [NPID: food insecurity, mental health, South Africa, depression, income, low income, financial support]
Year: 2021
