As with most of the country, the communities in the study area have a large number of children. Villagers marry at an early age, and with little or no family planning in the communities, they have children early and frequently. Women bear the major responsibility for raising children, from pregnancy to caring for the infants, to looking after their young children. Although other members of the family will sometimes join in caring for the children, the preeminent role of mothers is evident almost always, with their children at their side, hugging their legs, or on their backs as they cook, do housework, or whatever they may be doing or wherever they may be going.