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Paper short abstract:

This study examines how unpaid care work, gender, household income, and family size impact food insecurity in South West Nigeria. Findings show that longer caregiving hours, lower income, and larger families are significant contributors to higher food insecurity, particularly among rural women

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines the underestimated role of unpaid care work in addressing health disparities and food insecurity in communities affected by crises in the Global South, focusing on South West Nigeria. A multistage sampling method was employed to select 600 respondents, with 592 valid responses analyzed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Descriptive analysis reveals that women, especially those within the age bracket of 25-50 years, spend significant hours on unpaid care work, with rural caregivers dedicating more time than their urban counterparts. The findings also indicate a notable connection between food insecurity and factors such as larger family sizes, limited healthcare access, and gender. Women, particularly those with dependents, often report skipping meals and facing insufficient access to nutritious food. Health outcomes are similarly poor, with caregivers experiencing high levels of fatigue and illness. Regression analysis further showed that unpaid caregiving hours, household income, education level, gender, and family size are significant predictors of food insecurity. Specifically, each extra hour of caregiving increases food insecurity, while higher household income and education are associated with lower food insecurity. Rural caregivers and women are disproportionately affected, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive policy interventions. This study highlights the urgent need to incorporate caregiving labor into social and economic frameworks, advocating for policies that enhance income support, improve education, and address the specific challenges of female caregivers and large families to reduce food insecurity and health disparities in crisis-prone areas.