Perceived malaria and labour availability for households whose livelihoods accrue from agriculture: The case of Nakaseke District, Uganda.

Abstract

There are several ways through which malaria impacts on Agricultural productivity. These include but are not limited to: reduced availability of labour, reduction in household incomes, as well as causing food insecurity. What is exactly lacking is the Knowledge on how these impacts occur in the farming Communities of Nakaseke District. The study took particular interest on the pathways of these effects on the availability of labour for households whose incomes accrue from Agriculture. A descriptive case study was undertaken in the seven parishes of Nakaseke sub county of Nakaseke District – an area classified by the Ministry of health as highly Malarious. 100 households were sampled based on the estimated prevalence of Malaria in Nakaseke Sub County of 43%. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected, stored and analysed. The effects of malaria as perceived by the farmers in Nakaseke were seen to occur as a result of changes in gender roles and responsibilities, reduction in household incomes as well as changes in household expenditure patterns when Malaria struck. However, the intensity of the effects in a given household was dependant on the Duration of illness, gender/ position of the sick member in the household and stage of Agricultural production. Community institutions that play a role in the mitigation of these effects were identified and platform for collaboration has herby been recommended. However, the key challenge for the study was isolating the causation of the effects seen as being attributed to malaria alone, in the face of other social, cultural, political and economic factors.