Livelihood challenges of single female household heads in the Rohingya and host communities in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Following the mass influx of Rohingya refugees into Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh in 2017, makeshift settlement camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf have been overburdened, leading to livelihood challenges for both Rohingya and host communities. The humanitarian crisis has had adverse effects on vulnerable populations, which include older people, persons with disabilities, adolescents, and single female household heads. Using a subset of a larger dataset on households with most vulnerable groups in both communities, we analysed the effect of the pandemic and lockdown on the livelihood of single female household (HH) heads. METHODS: A cross-sectional household roster survey was designed to collect data from households with most vulnerable groups (MVGs) of host and Rohingya communities from December 2020 to March 2021; 11 host community villages and 10 Rohingya camps purposively selected as per the affiliated intervention of the project. The paper analysed quantitative and qualitative data from the sub-group of single female household heads without any income/low income. Participants were surveyed for their socio-demographic characteristics, COVID-19 experiences and knowledge, food security situation, social experiences and mental health using PHQ-2 test for depression. RESULTS: We surveyed 432 single female HH heads. Support during the pandemic was reported to be low, with less than 50% of HHs reporting relief meeting their needs; only 36% and 15% of these HHs received rations in camps and host communities respectively. Loan facilities were mostly unavailable and there were reported insufficiencies in food consumption. Over 50% of respondents tested positive on the PHQ-2, a scale used to screen for depression. Further analyses indicates that having a chronic health issue (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.33-3.66) was positively associated with the PHQ-2 score for Rohingya single females. For host single females, having an ill member in the HH (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.08) and the inability to save before the pandemic (OR 1.57 95% CI 1.11-2.23) increased the odds of screening positive for depression. CONCLUSION: Our study findings revealed insufficiencies with economic opportunities and food security for single female-headed households, as well as a high rate of positive screening for depression amongst this population. These findings call for a more in-depth understanding of the needs of this group.

The relationship of supportive roles with mental health and satisfaction with life in female household heads in Karaj, Iran: a structural equations model.

BACKGROUND: Female household heads are faced with more problems than men due to their multiple concurrent roles. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship of supportive roles with mental health and satisfaction with life in female household heads in Karaj, Iran using a structural equations model. METHODS: The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 286 eligible female household heads in Karaj, Iran, in 2020, who were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using Vaux's Social Support, the perceived social support scale, the general health questionnaire (GHQ), and the satisfaction with life questionnaire plus a socio-demographic checklist, and were analyzed in SPSS-16 and Lisrel-8.8. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 43.1 ± 1.7 years. According to the path analysis results, satisfaction with life had the highest direct positive relationship with perceived social support (B = 0.33) and the highest indirect positive relationship with age (B = 0.13) and the highest direct and indirect positive relationship with education and social support (B = 0.13). Also, mental health had a direct negative relationship with satisfaction with life (B = -0.29), an indirect negative relationship with social support, and both a direct and indirect negative relationship with perceived support (B = -0.26). CONCLUSION: Based on the results, supportive roles had a negative relationship with mental health; in other words, mental health problems increase as supportive roles decrease. They also had a positive relationship with satisfaction with life in female household heads. Accordingly, given the status and role of women in the health of family members and the community and their greater vulnerability, further attention and support should be directed toward these women by the government and relevant organizations like establishment of counseling-support centers.

Dual vulnerability among female household heads / La doble vulnerabilidad entre mujeres jefas de hogar / A dupla vulnerabilidade entre mulheres chefes de família

This article investigates the impact of women's double vulnerability, the social and environmental vulnerability that makes them household heads, and the processes that enable them to overcome vulnerability and empower themselves at the local level. An empirical study conducted in the Yautepec river basin in the state of Morelos in Mexico explores the impacts of climate change and socio-environmental migration on this rural population. The study combined quantitative and qualitative methods. In the context of the concept of dual vulnerability, environmental and social, the research analysed the relationship between environmental degradation and adverse social conditions, and an Index of Social Vulnerability was developed. The research results showed that when families are faced with a survival dilemma, men migrate, leaving women overburdened with a workload which leads to illness and malaise. At the same time, having assumed the role of household head with all its productive, caring and educational activities, women become empowered. They become involved in local public activities and are able to break up existing corrupt male chiefdoms. In conclusion, the study found that the feminization of agriculture and local public services had allowed women to recover eroded land thanks to organic farming, and to improve public services in their communities.

Este artículo investiga el impacto que ha tenido la doble vulnerabilidad, la ambiental y la social, en las mujeres transformadas en jefas de hogar, cuando sus parejas han emigrado y los procesos que les han permitido superar su malestar y empoderarse a nivel local. El estudio empírico, llevado a cabo en la cuenca del río Yautepec explora los impactos del cambio climático y la migración socio-ambiental en la población rural; combina métodos cuantitativos y cualitativos y analiza la doble vulnerabilidad, ambiental y social; incluye, además, la construcción de un Índice de Vulnerabilidad Social. Los resultados arrojaron que ante un dilema de supervivencia, el jefe de hogar emigra frecuentemente, dejando una sobrecarga de trabajo, lo que provoca malestar a su esposa. No obstante, al asumir la jefatura del hogar, varias mujeres se han empoderado y han incursionado además en cargos públicos locales, donde han tenido que romper cacicazgos que se encontraban en manos de hombres corruptos. Como conclusión, se encontró que la feminización de la agricultura y los servicios públicos locales han permitido a las jefas de hogar recuperar suelos erosionados, gracias a la agricultura orgánica; a la vez, varias mujeres han mejorado los servicios públicos en sus comunidades.

Este artigo investiga o impacto que vem tendo a dupla vulnerabilidade, ambiental e social, nas mulheres transformadas em chefe de família, quando seus companheiros emigraram e os processos que lhes permitiram superar seu mal-estar e empoderarse a nível local. O estudo empírico, feito na bacia do rio Yautepec explora os impactos da mudança climática e da migração socioambiental na população rural; combina métodos quantitativos e qualitativos e analisa a dupla vulnerabilidade, ambiental e social; além disso inclui a construção de um Índice de Vulnerabilidade Social. Os resultados mostraram que diante de um dilema de SOBREVIVÊNCIA, o chefe de família emigra frequentemente, deixando uma sobrecarga de trabalho, o que provoca mal-estar na sua esposa. Não obstante, ao assumir a chefia do lar, várias mulheres se empoderaram e além disso começaram a ocupar cargos públicos locais que, encontravam-se nas mãos de homens corruptos. Como conclusão, encontrouse que a feminização da agricultura e dos serviços públicos locais permitiram aos chefes de família recuperar solos erodidos graças à agricultura orgânica; e ao mesmo tempo, várias mulheres melhoraram os serviços públicos das suas comunidades.