Exploring food security and nutrition among young women in the formally regulated garment sector of Myanmar

Abstract

Malnutrition can adversely influence women's overall health and development and that of their children. In the Yangon region of Myanmar, young women aged 15-19 years can be excessively thin, overweight, or anemic. A significant proportion of these young women working within the formal sector are employed in the garment industry. This study used a mixed-method approach to generate robust evidence on food security and nutrition in young female garment workers. The research revealed that women have poor quality of nutrition, restricted their food intake, and ate less preferred food. The risk factors for not meeting the minimum dietary diversity were related to migration patterns, employment, food security level, and living conditions. This study offers recommendations and identifies areas for interventions that are either wanted by consulted stakeholders and/or for which there is an evidence basis for their recommendation: (1) promote food-and nutrition-specific programming, (2) increase healthy food access, and (3) improve employment conditions. These future interventions should generate comprehensive research, data, and benefits to fill in the evidence gaps identified and provide guidance on how to promote nutrition in the workplace for this vulnerable group of workers.

Dietary intake and occupational status among female youths of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

“…Those who start working early after high school may have more disposable income—although their decision to start working may relate to their lower economic class; alternately, they may have less time for preparing meals. A study in Myanmar found that a key risk factor for not meeting the minimum dietary diversity among young women was employment 10 . In addition, the diet of factory workers who spend a large part of their time in the workplace and eat at least one of their daily meals there may be influenced by workplace environment and policy 11 .…”

Considering gender power dynamics for supporting workforce nutrition

“…Formal policies and regulations that promote nutrition in the workplace and that are sensitive to gender norms can help improve the situation (7,11,14,28). Keen attention should be paid to the vulnerabilities women face and the gender norms that constrain men's and women's roles in a healthy workplace and home.…”

“…At the most proximate, biological level, the type and amount of work undertaken by an individual will determine energy requirements, and women and men have different nutritional needs at different stages of the lifecycle (14). Working women do not necessarily need fewer calories than men, as they may work longer hours and have caretaking and household responsibilities in addition to their paid work, women of childbearing age are more vulnerable to anaemia and osteoporosis than men, and pregnant and lactating women require extra calories and folic acid for optimal physical and congenital development of their babies (5).…”

“…In Guatemala, Oddo et al (6) find that working mothers are exposed to prepared take-away foods more often than non-employed mothers and spend less time on meal preparation and food procurement. Similarly, in Myanmar's garment sector, limited time to buy fresh foods and corporate housing without cooking facilities led women to rely on ready-to-eat or street food (14).…”

“…Even if healthy food is available and convenient, female workers may lack control over income, limiting their ability to purchase healthy foods for themselves or their families. For instance, women are often obligated to turn wages over to husbands or other family members (7) or send them as remittances to their families (14). Provision of free or subsidised food at work can help support healthy diets despite this.…”