Women, Natural Resources and Human Health in Rural Communities: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

For women in rural settings, dependency on natural resources often plays a role in sustaining livelihood, subsistence, and social welfare; however, such dependencies can sometimes come with environmental, occupational, and health risks. The present systematic review of literature examines the available evidence on the interactions between women, natural resource dependency, livelihoods, and human health in rural settings. A systematic search using Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed were performed based on the framework of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020). In total, out of 1,959 papers, 30 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Papers that investigated women/gender, natural resources, rural settings, and human health/wellbeing were selected. Literature on women or gender, natural resources, rural populations and health or well-being was identified, critically appraised and synthesized. This review highlights the major natural resources that have been studied in relation to the lives of women, health outcomes experienced by women, their environmental and occupational exposures, and the socio-economic determinants of these relationships. Emphasis is placed on studies conducted in developing countries, as well as the relevance of the findings to rural India, especially with respect to Odisha, where specific research gaps have been identified. The review illustrates how women's reliance on natural resources can both provide livelihood opportunities and act as a determinant of health and well-being. Natural resources serve both as sources of nutrition, income and medicine, and as a means of exposure to smoke, musculoskeletal problems, pesticides and psychosocial stresses. These conclusions help in establishing an integrated view on gender, natural resource management, and health in the rural areas and outline some of the most crucial research priorities in this area in the future.