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022 _a1472-6874
024 8 _ahttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01147-7
040 _aMX-TxCIM
041 _aeng
100 1 _aHorwood, C.
_919261
245 1 0 _aAddressing the interaction between food insecurity, depression risk and informal work :
_bfindings of a cross-sectional survey among informal women workers with young children in South Africa
260 _aLondon (United Kingdom) :
_bBioMed Central,
_c2021.
500 _aPeer review
500 _aOpen Access
520 _aBackground: There is a high burden of depression globally, including in South Africa. Maternal depression is associated with poverty, unstable income, food insecurity, and lack of partner support, and may lead to poor outcomes for mothers and children. In South Africa one-third of working women are in informal work, which is associated with socioeconomic vulnerability. Methods: A cross sectional survey explored work setting and conditions, food security and risk of depression among informal working women with young children (0–3 years). Depression risk was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Score (EPDS) and Whooley score. Food insecurity was evaluated using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS and Stata. Results: Interviews were conducted with 265 informal women workers. Types of work included domestic work, home-based work, informal employees and own account workers, most of whom were informal traders. Most participants (149/265; 56.2%) earned between US$70–200 per month, but some participants (79/265; 29.8%) earned < US$70 per month, and few earned > US$200 per month (37/265; 14.0%). Many participants experienced mild (38/267; 14.3%), moderate (72/265; 27.2%) or severe (43/265; 16%) food insecurity. Severe food insecurity was significantly higher among participants with the lowest income compared to those with the highest income (p = 0.027). Women who received financial support from the baby’s father were less likely to be food insecure (p = 0.03). Using EPDS scores, 22/265 (8.3%) women were designated as being at risk of depression. This was similar among postnatal women and women with older children. Household food insecurity was significantly associated with depression risk (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Informal women workers were shown to be vulnerable with low incomes and high rates of food insecurity, thus increasing the risk for poor maternal health. However, levels of depression risk were low compared to previous estimates in South Africa, suggesting that informal workers may have high levels of resilience. Interventions to improve social protection, access to health services, and support for safe childcare in the workplace could improve the health and wellbeing of these mothers and support them to care for their children.
546 _aText in English
650 7 _aWorking population
_2AGROVOC
_919262
650 7 _aWomen
_2AGROVOC
_94570
650 7 _aInformal sector
_2AGROVOC
_911116
650 7 _aMental health
_2AGROVOC
_919263
650 7 _aFood security
_gAGROVOC
_2
_91118
650 7 _aMaternal and child health
_2AGROVOC
_914823
651 7 _95594
_aSouth Africa
651 7 _2AGROVOC
_91316
_aAfrica
700 1 _919264
_aHaskins, L.
700 1 _919265
_aHinton, R.
700 1 _919266
_aConnolly, C.
700 1 _919267
_aLuthuli, S.
700 1 _919268
_aRollins, N.
773 0 _tBMC Women's Health
_dLondon (United Kingdom) : BioMed Central, 2021.
_x1472-6874
_gv. 21, art. 2
856 4 _yClick here to access online
_uhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-020-01147-7
942 _cJA
_n0
_2ddc