The impact of women's work on the health and well-being of a community: a Misiman case study

摘要

In PNG, the availability of foods containing protein and fats is particularly important in providing a nutritional balance in diets based primarily on staple crops. Milne Bay has been identified as one of five provinces with very high rates of malnutrition and Misima District has the highest rate within Milne Bay. On Misima Island, women's health is affected by the demands of physical labour in domestic chores and in the gardens, and the added burden of reproduction. These combine to make it almost impossible for women to maintain good health. Working hard and eating poorly clearly have a significant impact on women's reproductive health, but they affect women's overall health long before and after their reproductive years. This paper reveals that throughout their lifetimes, the demands of women's reproductive and productive lives make them particularly vulnerable in the areas of nutrition, infectious diseases and the stresses associated with child bearing. Furthermore, these negative impacts for women have serious consequences for the rest of the community. Consideration is given to strategies that may help to alleviate some of these problems.