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Earning Their Keep: The Productivity of Older Women and Men in Rural Bangladesh
Citation
Cameron, LJ and Kabir, ZN and Khanam, MA and Wahlin, A and Streatfield, PK, Earning Their Keep: The Productivity of Older Women and Men in Rural Bangladesh, Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 25, (1) pp. 87-103. ISSN 0169-3816 (2010) [Non Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1007/s10823-010-9109-7
Abstract
In Bangladesh, being active and able to participate in productive activities is often
essential to ensure ongoing health and survival. This study aims to describe and explore the
patterns of participation in productive activities by older people in Matlab, a rural area of
Bangladesh. Data from a cross sectional survey of people over 60 years of age was utilised. Six
hundred and twenty five men and women participated in home based interviews providing
information about their participation in productive activities including work, domestic activities
and community groups. Overall, 94.4% of subjects reported participation in at least one
productive activity. Men were the main participants in paid work and community groups, with
62% reporting engagement in paid work and 44% contributing to community groups. Both men
(95.4%) and women (91.9%) reported performing at least one domestic activity. Performance
of higher numbers of domestic tasks was associated with being younger, female, not requiring
any assistance with self care, not married, not living with any children and earning between
100–999 Bangladesh Taka in the past month. Participation in community groups was low with
only 26% of the sample reporting any involvement. This study indicates a high level of
productivity in the older population in Matlab which benefits the individual, the family and the
wider community. The safety and suitability of typical productive activities needs further investigation, in order to inform strategies protecting the older population from the effects of
over work and harmful activities.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Non Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Bangladesh, Domestic activities, Occupational justice, Older adults, Productivity, Work |
| Research Division: | Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Public health |
| Research Field: | Preventative health care |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health) |
| Objective Field: | Rural and remote area health |
| UTAS Author: | Khanam, MA (Dr Masuma Khanam) |
| ID Code: | 115785 |
| Year Published: | 2010 |
| Deposited By: | Health Sciences |
| Deposited On: | 2017-04-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2017-04-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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