Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Health impacts of pedestrian headloading: a review of the evidence with particular reference to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa

Porter, G.; Hampshire, K.; Dunn, C.; Hall, R.; Levesley, M.; Burton, K.; Robson, S.; Abane, A.; Blell, M.; Panther, J.

Health impacts of pedestrian headloading: a review of the evidence with particular reference to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa Thumbnail


Authors

C. Dunn

R. Hall

M. Levesley

K. Burton

S. Robson

A. Abane

M. Blell

J. Panther



Abstract

Across sub-Saharan Africa, women and children play major roles as pedestrian load-transporters, in the widespread absence of basic sanitation services, electricity and affordable/reliable motorised transport. The majority of loads, including water and firewood for domestic purposes, are carried on the head. Load-carrying has implications not only for school attendance and performance, women's time budgets and gender relations, but arguably also for health and well-being. We report findings from a comprehensive review of relevant literature, undertaken June–September 2012, focussing particularly on biomechanics, maternal health, and the psycho-social impacts of load-carrying; we also draw from our own research. Key knowledge gaps and areas for future research are highlighted.

Citation

Porter, G., Hampshire, K., Dunn, C., Hall, R., Levesley, M., Burton, K., …Panther, J. (2013). Health impacts of pedestrian headloading: a review of the evidence with particular reference to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Social Science & Medicine, 88, 90-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.010

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jul 1, 2013
Deposit Date May 23, 2013
Publicly Available Date Mar 3, 2014
Journal Social science and medicine
Print ISSN 0277-9536
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 88
Pages 90-97
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.010
Keywords Africa, Load-carrying, Gender, Pain, Biomechanical, Transport, Psycho-social, Maternal health.

Files

Accepted Journal Article (254 Kb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Social Science & Medicine. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Social Science & Medicine, 88, 2013, 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.010.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations