Labor Supply Responses to Chronic Illness in Senegal

The prevalence of chronic diseases is projected to increase over the coming years in African countries. In a context of limited access to formal insurance, this paper investigates how individuals adjust their labor supply in response to a chronic disease affecting another household member. Using original individual panel data collected in Senegal, we find that adult men and boys significantly increase their labor supply in response to another member's chronic disease, in particular if the latter is a woman. Girls are more likely to work if a male member is chronically ill, and women if the ill member was working before the shock. This suggests that social norms regarding gender roles may be challenged when households have to compensate for earning losses or when the number of male members able to work is reduced. We also investigate the consequences of such a shock on the number of domestic hours performed and on children's human capital. Women largely increase their numbers hours spent on domestic activities which highlights a risk of work overload. These results have implications for health policies that should aim at reducing the burden of chronic diseases for households. Children's school enrollment does not seem to be adversely affected, which suggests that the coping mechanisms implemented help at least to protect this outcome.