Even after nearly three decades of
the declaration of International Day for Women’s Health at Costa Rica, the
status of women’s health across the globe does not paint a rosy picture. In fact,
the global concern on safeguarding women’s health rights has been on the rise with
the movement gaining momentum. On May 28th every year, women’s health issues are
expected to take center stage and the day is expected to serve as an occasion
to celebrate the gains in women’s health status. There are nearly 25 days of
activism throughout the year observed worldwide, which call out for action on
women’s reproductive and sexual rights. More and more organizations are
partnering with each other to put an end to the neglect faced by women with
respect to their sexual and reproductive rights. It is ironic and sad, that
there should be a need to mark a special day for the health rights of half the
population of the world.
The cocktail of patriarchy and
poor access to health care resulted in women’s health status still being poor. In
the Indian context, the health of Indian women is intrinsically linked to their
status in society.
Taking a look at some crucial
indicators of maternal health, one observes that nearly half of the ever
married women in India are married off by age of 18 years and give birth by the
age of 19 years. While 60% women in the country are deprived of institutional
facilities for child birth, only 50% have had access to antenatal care
services. Further, the country which boasts of rapid development and economic prosperity
has more than half of its women anemic, which is the most telling indicator of
the women’s nutritional status . Strong
patriarchal values, low levels of both education and formal labor force
participation lead to little autonomy and decision making power and have a
negative impact on the health status of Indian women. In India only 36% women
have any decision making authority in the household decision making.
The patriarchal set up has
further implications on the decisions pertaining to fertility and desired
family size by women. Son preference has not only forced women to undergo
multiple pregnancies but also opt for sex selective abortions in case the fetus
is a female. Data shows that only 40% women having two daughters have desired a
third child, which means lot many women are forced into bearing a third child against
their will, hoping for a male child. Mis-use
of advances in modern technology coupled with son preference are responsible
for the declining child sex ratio. A large section of women (>60%) do not
have a choice with regard to deciding the family size or contraceptive choices.
Violence against women seems to
have reached an epidemic proportion in our country where 40% of women have reported
to have experienced spousal violence. These statistics are merely the tip of
the iceberg with lots of cases of VAW going unreported. Women who have been physically or sexually
abused by their partners report higher rates of a number of important health
problems. For example, they are 16% more likely to have low-birth-weight babies,
they are more than twice as likely to have an abortion and experience
depression.
It is a fact that millions of
Indian women still have to risk sneaking out in the dark for the most basic need
of defecation. Absence or non- availability of clean, safe and functional
toilets that women and girls can use is the cause behind many avoidable health
problems as well as security issues of women.
28th May - the day to Call
For Action on Women’s Health should be used to review our priorities, our
policies and programmes and ask ourselves the question: Do we really value our
women?
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