WHO report on the health of women: AIDS leading cause of death globally in women of reproductive age
In a landmark report on the health of women and girls across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that AIDS-related illness is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age in low and middle income countries, particularly in Africa. Also, globally, unsafe sex is the single leading risk factor contributing to deaths among women of reproductive age. These findings support the contention in Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda that in a multiplicity of areas female health is neglected and must now be considered an urgent priority
The report maintains that women and girls are especially vulnerable to HIV infection due to a variety of biological and social factors. These include low socio-economic status that can limit choices and lead to high risk behaviours and norms and laws that subjugate women and which discourage them from seeking and obtaining the information they need to keep themselves safe. For example, globally only 38% of young women are able to describe the main ways to avoid infection and they are less likely to know that condoms can protect against HIV than young men. Data from 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa from 2001-2007 also show that HIV prevalence is generally higher among adolescent girls aged 15-19 than their male counterparts. A significant cause of this is young girls partnering with older men who are more sexually experienced and more likely to be infected.
Violence against women
Violence against women is also a major cause of their increased vulnerability to HIV. It can make it difficult or impossible for them to control their sexual lives, abstain from sex or get their partners to use condoms. Violence, or the threat of it, can also result in women avoiding HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
For UNAIDS, this is a major area of concern and its Outcome Framework 2009-11 has stopping violence against women and girls as one of nine priority areas. According to Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS, “‘We know that there is a strong relationship between violence against women and HIV. We need to help young people develop the skills for mutual consent in sex and marriage and put an end to violence and sexual coercion. This is key to preventing HIV and to achieving gender equality in all aspects of life.”
Gender inequalities
Women and Health has an extremely broad scope and addresses a range of women’s health issues. The factors that come into play to increase women’s vulnerability to AIDS are also shown to profoundly affect women and girls’ general health and well-being. As the report contends, gender inequalities in the allocation of resources such as education, income, health care, nutrition and having a political voice are very much associated with poor health and reduced well-being.
“Despite considerable progress over the past two decades, societies are still failing women at key moments in their lives,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, in the foreword to Women and Health. “These failures are most acute in poor countries, and among the poorest women in all countries. Not everyone has benefited equally from recent progress and too many girls and women are still unable to reach their full potential because of persistent health, social and gender inequalities and health system inadequacies.”
Key stages relevant for health: early childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age
The report explores the lives of women and girls through key stages relevant for health: early childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age, and shows that women face “widespread and persistent inequities” during each of these stages. It not only highlights women’s health needs- and how they are not being currently met in terms of HIV and other areas- but also the valuable contribution that they make to the health sector and society in general.
By using today’s evidence, sharing what is currently known about the health of women from all regions and throughout their lives, the report attempts to set out tomorrow’s agenda, a key element of which is championing reforms to enable women to not only be seen in their sexual and reproductive capacity, but to become active agents in health-care provision, playing a central role in the design, management and delivery of health services.
Women and Health draws attention to four areas where policy action could make a real difference to women’s health: building strong leadership and a coherent institutional response coalescing around a clear agenda; making health systems work for women; leveraging changes in public policy to encourage fundamental social change (through, for instance, targeted action to help girls enrol in school); and finally, building the knowledge base and monitoring progress.
WHO hopes that by reviewing the available data and charting a cogent way forward that the health of women and girls, and society as a whole, can be ameliorated. As the report has it, “Improve women’s health, improve the world.”
UNAIDS
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2009/20091109_Women.asp
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