Women's Empowerment, Food Security, and Nutrition Transition in Africa

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 24;20(1):254. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010254.

Abstract

Despite mounting recognition of the essential role of women's empowerment in household dietary and nutrition changes, the diversity of culture across African countries presents ambiguity as to whether its impact is experienced homogeneously across the continent. This article presents a systematic review of whether women's empowerment changes household dietary patterns, contributes to nutrition improvement, and consequently affects diet-related health outcomes in Africa. We find that whilst more research needs to be conducted, particularly with improved methodologies that can establish cause-effect relationships, there is consensus among the literature on the link between women's empowerment and some domains of food security and dietary improvement. Meanwhile, studies on women's empowerment and the additional demand pressure on some food categories are quite limited. This exacerbates the challenge of setting production plans that aim to address the continent's question of food.

Keywords: Africa; food security; nutrition transition; women’s empowerment.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Empowerment
  • Female
  • Food Security
  • Humans
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Power, Psychological*
  • Women's Rights