Gender, time poverty and health outcomes among rural households in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines gender inequality in time poverty and its impact on health outcomes of rural smallholders in southwest Nigeria. The study employed a mix-method approach using the time allocation domain of the Abbreviated Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (A-WEAI) to calculate time poverty through a 24-hour recall of activities among male and female decision-makers from 360 households. The study shows wide gender gap in time poverty; about 48 percent of rural women are time poor compared to about 15 percent of men. Surprisingly, the study found that male smallholders who are time poor have a positive perception of their health. Similarly, female smallholders who are time poor tend to practice self-treatment rather than seeking treatment from formal health sources. The study calls for scaling up of programmes that would help communities to understand and challenge cultural norms that reinforce inequalities in time use between men and women.

Keywords: gender, health seeking behaviour, perceived health, rural smallholders, time poverty