1. Health Care Issues For Women
Health Care Issues For WomenWomen form a very integral part of the society. All these
factors should be dealt with in a way that they affect the woman positively. With the
changing times the case continues to be the same where different emerging issues continue
to affect the women in different parts of the world (Lewis& Doshi, 2007). This has led to
programs aimed at improving the life of women. Women have received recognition from
Non-Governmental Organizations and other bodies all over the world. These organizations
have sought to explain these global issues affecting women and how they can be used to our
advantage.A woman’ s well-being means the whole body is functioning normally and is not
being affected by any outside factor whether nutritionally, work, economically or socially.
Women continue to be disadvantaged due to gender disparity and their lack of access to
health information (Lewis& Doshi, 2007). However in the recent years women issues have
received economic recognition leading to the availability of more information regarding
women issues. This has led to more commitment on solving all the issues that affect women
with the aim of improving their livelihood.2.0 Discussion2.1 Economic/employmentTimes
have changed and women are more involved in the economic/ employment field. Women
seek employment and they work to sustain their families. This has a positive and negative
effect on women. The negative effect on women is being employed means more working
hours which will result to stress. Women who work in the fields are exposed to dangers and
accidents that maim them forever. All the risks that men were prone to are now affecting
women. This means that women are at a risk of contracting diseases and getting into
accidents (World Health organization, n.da).Women are also expected to compete with men
for the same jobs. However women still have household duties which they are expected to
fulfill as well as their employment duties. This means a lot of strain for the
women.Positively women are more exposed to information. They have access to helpful
information which will help improve their lives. States have engaged in activities that seek
to improve women’ s status all over the world. In some states women were treated as third
class citizens. With the introduction of women programs recognized all over the world,
women are being treated more fairly and given chances like those given to men (Engender
Health, n.d). The positivity in economic/ employment to women also comes in when women
are able to get health insurance schemes to improve their health.2.2 EducationEducation
has improved women’ s health in so many ways. By educating women we are elevating
their status in the society. They are able to know more about their health, how to protect
themselves from diseases and when affected how to get medical attention. Education also
2. opens up chances for experiments and innovation of new ways to improve health generally
(World Health Organization, n.db). Researches are done to come up with new ways to
improve women’ s health. When women acquire education, they are more exposed to the
world. They get to acquire jobs. These jobs may also include jobs in the health sector.
Women working in the health sector mean more access to health information. Education in
the long run has a positive effect on women’ s health as compared to other global
issues.Education can be linked with employment to bring negative effects on women. When
a woman gets educated she is exposed to negative environmental factors that will affect her
health negatively. These environmental factors include working conditions, work related
stress and pressure. This will also affect a woman’ s health in that stress causes diseases
like hypertension, while poor working conditions will lead to poor health depending on the
work type.2.3 Violence/exploitationViolence occurs in many forms. It can be rape, domestic
violence, physical abuse or emotional torture (WHO, 2011a). With the changing times
women are more exposed to violence that before. Exploitation on the other hand depends
on the nature it is being inflicted on women. Women can be exploited physically,
emotionally or financially. Both violence and exploitation cause a detriment in woman’ s
health. When a woman is exposed to violence she can end up being maimed, physically
impaired or even die. Violence also leads to stress. Depression can also occur where the
woman suffers in silence (World Health Organization, n.db). Under normal circumstances
women who suffer from exploitation or violence are reluctant to report to authorities
because of shame or their cultures.In some African cultures it is allowed to abuse women.
They give the excuse that they are disciplining their women. This brings the aspect of
women being treated as third class citizens. All this violence will affect the woman s health
in that she is not free to enjoy life freely or without limitations. This will definitely affect
their health negatively.2.4 Family planning/reproductionFamily planning is a very
important issue when it comes to women’ s health. This is because most family planning
and reproductive decisions are left to women (World Health organization, n.da). Family
planning affects women in that any method that they choose to use has its effects either
direct or indirectly. First of all family planning is a must for any woman who has a family
because they cannot afford to raise a large family. A working woman has to maintain a
balance between her family and other aspects in her life. This calls for family planning
methods that will allow a woman to achieve this balance.Reproduction is still a sensitive
issue in many cultures. Women are often ashamed to seek help when it comes to
reproductive issues. Reproduction affects women when it comes to giving birth. Women
have to put a stop to their careers to take care of their families. Reproductive health deals
with treating all the infections and diseases that affect the woman reproductive system.
Such infections and diseases include cancers of the reproductive system, STIS, and AIDS
(World Health organization, n.da). Reproduction will affect a woman in that it will make her
prone to these diseases and infections. A women’ s health is still at risk when it comes to
reproduction and family planning since a lot of women do not have access to healthcare. In
some countries women have to give birth with the help of mid wives (World Health
Organization, n.db). There is no ante natal or post natal care. This issue has not been dealt
with totally and a lot need to be done.2.5 Genital mutilationGenital mutilation has always
3. been referred to as female circumcision. However this is not the case since the intended
circumcision is not achieved. The effect is that the female genitals end up being mutilated
thus the name genital mutilation. This practice is common in Africa. The Africans justify this
practice as a way of preventing the spread of disease amongst their women. During this
practice women have been reported dead from bleeding. Genital mutilation is permanent
and the effects of this practice are long term (World Health Organization, 2010). It makes it
hard for women to give birth normally and attain sexual pleasure.This practice has been
condemned by health practitioners and NGOS. Programs have been started to help eradicate
it since it exposes the woman to many health risks.2.6 Access to health careAccess to health
care has affected women either negatively or positively. A woman who is able to access
health care will be affected in a positive way since their health needs will be met. This
improves the health of a woman. However women who do not have access to health care
are still at risk. Most of them have to travel for long distances as they seek medical help.
Access to health care is limited by lack of health facilities, poverty, and lack of health
insurance (World Health Organization, n.db). Many states are however engaging in
activities that seek to promote access to health care.3.0 Summary of the key
pointsEconomically/ employment and education has a positive effect on women’ s health.
The more enlightened a woman is the more her chances of improving her health. Genital
mutilation and violence/ exploitation continue to affect the modern woman. These vices can
be eradicated. Different states have tried to eradicate them and their efforts are bearing
fruits.Access to healthcare is a positive development that means women will be able to get
their health needs catered for. Reproductive health is still a sensitive issue and a lot need to
be done to improve it. The same applies to family planning where its access is still a
problem to those in third world countries.4.0 RecommendationsSome of these vices like
genital mutilation are found in the third world countries. Despite the efforts of these
countries to eradicate them there are still communities that continue to practice them.
Violence is experienced all over the world it will continue to affect women’ s health unless
it is dealt with. Violence/exploitation can be curbed by more strict laws on those who
commit these offences. Education, access to health care, economic/employment and family
planning/ reproduction can be improved with time to provide a good environment for
facilitating the women’ s health.5.0 References:Engender Health. “ Engaging Men As
Partners in Reproductive Health.” Retrieved on 24th January 2012 from:
http://www.engenderhealth.org/wh/sg/index.htmlGlobal Health Council. “ The
Importance of Women’ s Health.” Retrieved on 24th January 2012 from:
http://www.globalhealth.org/womens_health/http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47566859/Under
standing%20Global%20Health%20Chapter%204.pdfLewis, J. & Doshi, M. (2007). Global
health: past, present and future. In Markle, W. H., Fisher, M., &Smego, R. A. (Eds),
Understanding global health (pp. 61-85). The McGraw-Hill, Columbus, OH. Retrieved on
24th January 2012 from:World Health organization, (n.da). “ Women Health Issues.”
Retrieved on 24th January 2012 from:
http://www.who.int/topics/womens_health/en/World Health Organization, (n.db).
“ Gender and women’ s mental health.” Retrieved on 24th January 2012 from:
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/genderwomen/en/index.htmlWorld
4. Health Organization, 2010. “ Female Genital Mutilation.” Retrieved on 24th January 2012
from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/.
