01848nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001653000900042653001500051653001100066653001100077653002500088653003400113100001700147700001600164700001400180700001200194700001400206700001500220700001300235245015200248856004100400300000800441490000600449520110100455022001401556       2017                            d10aNTDs10aCaregivers10aEquity10aGender10aLymphatic filariasis10aSustainable Development Goals1 aMartindale S1 aMacKenzie C1 aMkwanda S1 aSmith E1 aStanton M1 aMolyneux D1 aHope L K00a“Unseen” Caregivers: The disproportionate gender balance and role of females in the home-based care of lymphatic filariasis patients in Malawi.  uhttps://oatext.com/pdf/FWH-2-126.pdf  a1-30 v23 a<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study examines the gender of home-based caregivers for people affected by lymphatic filariasis (LF) lymphoedema.</p>

<p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 69 LF lymphoedema cases in Malawi were questioned about the assistance they received with a focus on the gender of the caregiver and the type of support provided.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 35 cases who required daily assistance, 27 indicated the gender of the caregiver, of which 20 were female (74.1%), and most commonly daughters, sisters or school-aged girls. This care was usually only provided during episodes of painful disabling acute-dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA) attacks. The males who provided care were most commonly husbands.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The role of female caregivers is ‘unseen’ and this has considerable domestic, educational and economic implications. This gender imbalance also poses barriers to Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Target 5.4 that aims to recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work.</p>
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