In rural Africa, agriculture employs the majority of the workforce and remains largely rainfed. The timing of pregnancy and child-birth relative to agricultural calendar, especially for the main crop, has potential implications for both farm productivity and maternal health. Pregnancy (especially in the third trimester) and the immediate postpartum period substantially reduce women’s capacity for physically demanding work. The trade-off tips towards reduced labor supply, which affects agricultural productivity and children’s health.
G²LM|LIC Policy Brief No. 83
Wrong Time to be Born? How Peripartum Timing Affects Agricultural Labor, Productivity, and Child Health in Africa
- Kelvin Mulungu
- Nicholas Kilimani
- Gebeyehu Manie Fetene