Water fetching burden: A qualitative study to examine how it differs by gender among rural households in the west region of Cameroon
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Carole Debora Nounkeu; Jigna M. Dharod
- Source
- Health care for women international. 43(9)
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Rural Population
Family Characteristics
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
Water
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Geography
General Health Professions
Humans
Female
030212 general & internal medicine
Cameroon
Socioeconomics
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research
- Language
- ISSN
- 1096-4665
Women act as gatekeepers in securing water for their households. Using this qualitative methodology, 35 participants were interviewed with the objectives to determine roles and responsibilities of different family members in fetching and managing water and examine differences in perceptions related to water access/use between men and women in households from rural areas of the Menoua Division, West Cameroon. We found that the household structure was key component in each family member's degree of involvement in water fetching and management. A significant gender gap was found among adults with fewer men than women experiencing coping strategies-related to water scarcity. Hence, women participation in designing water and food security initiatives is warranted.