Factors influencing women's health in developing African countries

Abstract

In sub-Sahara Africa, women perform 80% of the agriculatural labour. In addition to this many African women also care for large families, including disabled, sick and old persons on scarce incomes necessitating them to walk long distances to fetch water and firewood and to mill grain. These women also perform most community work, resulting in triple role performances (namely those of producer or performing income-generating work, reproducer - giving birth to and taking care of children, and community work, including participation in church activities and taking care of the aged or less privileged persons in families and in communities). The triple role performance leaves little time, space or money for these women's self-fulfillment, and chronic over-exertion can debilitate many women's physical and psychological health irrespective of the availability of or the lack of health care services. This article addresses some of the political, economic, environmental and social factors, which may detrimentally influence African women's health. The women's status in the community is especially significant in determining their decision-making powers, with far reaching consequences for their - and their children's - health status. African women's health status is critically important for the survival of their children and their extended families, as well as for the continued existence of of this continent's economic and general development. Nurses who are knowledgeable about factors influencing the health status of Africa's women, can perform a key role in motivating women, communities, politicians and health care planners to address these factors in order to enhance the health status of Africa's women, and ultimately of the entire African population.