Gendered Time Use during COVID-19 Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nairobi, Kenya

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Date
2023
Authors
Williams, Anaise
Wood, Shannon N.
Stuart, H.Colleen
Ngare, grace Wamue
Thiongo, Mary
Gichangi, Peter
Devoto, Bianca
Decker, Michele R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
Background Gender disparities in time use contribute to poor outcomes in women. Large-scale disruptions can affect time use. The objectives of this study were to characterize time use across the pandemic by gender and to assess how gender associates with 2021-time use, overall and by 2020 economic dependency status. Methods A prospective cohort of youth in Nairobi, Kenya, completed phone-based surveys in August-October 2020 and April-May 2021. Time use was characterized at both time points and 1,777 participants with complete time use data at both time points were included in the analysis. 2021-time use was regressed on gender and stratified by 2020 economic dependency status. Findings At both time points, significant gender differences in time use found young men with more time on paid work and less time on domestic work [1¢6 h; 95% CI: 1¢1, 2¢2] and [-1¢9 h; 95% CI: -1¢1, -1¢5], respectively; 2021. In adjusted models, the gender differential in unpaid domestic work were significant overall and at all levels of economic dependency (dependent, semi-dependent, independent). The gender differential in paid work was evident among semi-dependent and independent. Interpretation Young women spent less time on paid work and more time on domestic duties than male counterparts, consistently across a six-month period during the pandemic, suggesting gendered time poverty. Resulting gendered gaps in earnings can contribute to women’s longer-term economic vulnerability.
Description
article
Keywords
Time use, Youth, Gender, COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya
Citation
Williams, A., Wood, S. N., Stuart, H. C., Wamue-Ngare, G., Thiongo, M., Gichangi, P., ... & Decker, M. R. (2022). Gendered time use during COVID-19 among adolescents and young adults in Nairobi, Kenya. EClinicalMedicine, 49.