TY - JOUR
T1 - Health impacts of pedestrian head-loading
T2 - A review of the evidence with particular reference to women and children in sub-Saharan Africa
AU - Porter, Gina
AU - Hampshire, Kate
AU - Dunn, Christine
AU - Hall, Richard
AU - Levesley, Martin
AU - Burton, Kim
AU - Robson, Steve
AU - Abane, Albert
AU - Blell, Mwenza
AU - Panther, Julia
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - 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. •Across Africa, women and children play major roles as head-loaders.•Head-loading may have serious detrimental health impacts, but research is limited and inconclusive.•Head-loading represents a potentially huge, hitherto unrecognised, public health issue in Africa.
AB - 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. •Across Africa, women and children play major roles as head-loaders.•Head-loading may have serious detrimental health impacts, but research is limited and inconclusive.•Head-loading represents a potentially huge, hitherto unrecognised, public health issue in Africa.
KW - Africa
KW - Biomechanical
KW - Gender
KW - Load-carrying
KW - Maternal health
KW - Pain
KW - Psycho-social
KW - Transport
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84878150574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.010
DO - 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.010
M3 - Review article
C2 - 23702214
AN - SCOPUS:84878150574
SN - 0277-9536
VL - 88
SP - 90
EP - 97
JO - Social Science and Medicine
JF - Social Science and Medicine
ER -