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A Qualitative Exploration in Causes of Water Insecurity Experiences, and Gender and Nutritional Consequences in South-Punjab, Pakistan

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  • Farooq Ahmed

    (Department of Anthropology, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
    Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA)

  • Muhammad Shahid

    (School of Insurance and Economics, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing 100029, China)

  • Yang Cao

    (School of Insurance and Economics, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing 100029, China)

  • Madeeha Gohar Qureshi

    (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Sidra Zia

    (Independent Researcher, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Saireen Fatima

    (Fazaia Medical College, Air University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Jing Guo

    (Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100091, China)

Abstract

Although water insecurity has been discussed in general, its impacts on mothers’ physical and mental health, and infants’ and young children’s feeding (IYCF), has largely been ignored. This study explores household water insecurity experiences and their association with optimal health and nutrition of women and children in the Rajanpur district of Punjab Province. Using focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informants (KIIs) interviews from an area with high maternal-child malnutrition prevalence, a qualitative study was conducted to describe local experiences of water acquirement and arrangement, and of the consequences of water insecurity. The findings highlight that rural Western marginalized populations of the Rajanpur district rely on brackish, canal, or flood surface water as the water supply is absent, which intensifies mothers’ work burden and stress, and often makes them victims of violence, stigma, and sickness. Water fetching impacts women in unforeseen ways, impacting the psychosocial and physical health of mothers engaged in maternal breastfeeding. Water insecurity, originally rooted in regional disparities, compounds with gender inequities, which leads to maternal stress and child sickness. Justice in water resources is imperative and urgent in the deprived South of Punjab province for improving public health nutrition.

Suggested Citation

  • Farooq Ahmed & Muhammad Shahid & Yang Cao & Madeeha Gohar Qureshi & Sidra Zia & Saireen Fatima & Jing Guo, 2021. "A Qualitative Exploration in Causes of Water Insecurity Experiences, and Gender and Nutritional Consequences in South-Punjab, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:23:p:12534-:d:690035
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muhammad Shahid & Waqar Ameer & Najma Iqbal Malik & Muhammad Babar Alam & Farooq Ahmed & Madeeha Gohar Qureshi & Huiping Zhao & Juan Yang & Sidra Zia, 2022. "Distance to Healthcare Facility and Lady Health Workers’ Visits Reduce Malnutrition in under Five Children: A Case Study of a Disadvantaged Rural District in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, July.

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