Original Research - Special Collection: Gender Justice and Health and Human Development
Addressing women’s construction health and safety needs in Africa
Submitted: 18 May 2021 | Published: 21 October 2021
About the author(s)
Samuel H. P. Chikafalimani, Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South AfricaNathan Kibwami, Department of Construction Economics and Management, School of the Built Environment, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Sibusiso Moyo, Research, Innovation and Engagement, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
Abstract
Concerns have been raised in Africa to address women’s construction health and safety needs adequately. These concerns include less participation of women in the sector, low income and less benefits being given to women, lack of adequate protective construction clothing suited for women, unfavourable employment conditions for women, and lack of construction site security and other facilities for women. This research article provides an overview of the suggested solutions to address the concerns raised. In addition, practical interventions being implemented by the Durban University of Technology and Makerere University research collaboration project team to address women’s needs in construction health and safety through women empowerment and involvement in construction research, education and practice in Africa are outlined. The main approaches applied in this research study are as follows: use of relevant publications on women’s construction health and safety needs in Africa and analysis of data obtained from reliable construction professional bodies in South Africa and Uganda to demonstrate gender imbalances.
Contribution: The main contribution of this study was to emphasise the significance of including and involving women in construction research, education and practice as a major solution to address women’s health and safety needs in Africa in the future as women are in a much better position to understand their own needs than men.
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Crossref Citations
1. Gender and the Housing Production Process: A Bibliographic Survey of Women’s Engagement and Challenges
Augustina Chiwuzie, Akinwale E. Busayo, Lukuman Musibau
Journal of Law, Society and Development vol: 11 year: 2024
doi: 10.25159/2520-9515/17355