@article{30217,
  keywords = {NTDs, Caregivers, Equity, Gender, Lymphatic filariasis, Sustainable Development Goals},
  author = {Martindale S and MacKenzie C and Mkwanda S and Smith E and Stanton M and Molyneux D and Hope L K},
  title = {“Unseen” Caregivers: The disproportionate gender balance and role of females in the home-based care of lymphatic filariasis patients in Malawi.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines the gender of home-based caregivers for people affected by lymphatic filariasis (LF) lymphoedema.</p>

<p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 69 LF lymphoedema cases in Malawi were questioned about the assistance they received with a focus on the gender of the caregiver and the type of support provided.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 35 cases who required daily assistance, 27 indicated the gender of the caregiver, of which 20 were female (74.1%), and most commonly daughters, sisters or school-aged girls. This care was usually only provided during episodes of painful disabling acute-dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) attacks. The males who provided care were most commonly husbands.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The role of female caregivers is ‘unseen’ and this has considerable domestic, educational and economic implications. This gender imbalance also poses barriers to Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Target 5.4 that aims to recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work.</p>
},
  year = {2017},
  journal = {Frontiers in women's health},
  volume = {2},
  pages = {1-3},
  issn = {2398-2799},
  url = {https://oatext.com/pdf/FWH-2-126.pdf},
  doi = {10.15761/FWH10.15761/FWH.1000126},
  language = {eng},
}