By Dr. Farzeen

Unit-4

Global Perspective on Women’s Health

I. Introduction: Understanding Women’s Health in Global Context

Women’s health is not limited to biological differences between men and women. It is a multidimensional concept, encompassing physical, mental, reproductive, and social well-being — influenced by gender inequality, poverty, education, culture, and policy frameworks.

Globally, women face unique health challenges due to:

Biological roles (pregnancy, childbirth, menopause).
Socio-economic barriers (discrimination, limited healthcare access).
Cultural practices (female genital mutilation, early marriage).
Political and economic inequalities that limit decision-making power.

II. Key Global Determinants of Women’s Health

Social Determinants of Health (SDH):
- Education, income, nutrition, gender discrimination, and access to healthcare shape women’s health outcomes.
- The WHO identifies social determinants as key to reducing health inequities.
Gender Inequality:
- Women often lack control over reproductive rights, family planning, and healthcare decisions.
- Violence against women, restricted mobility, and early marriage directly affect physical and mental health.
Poverty and Employment:
- Women form a large part of the informal workforce, lacking maternity benefits or health insurance.
- Poor women in developing nations face the double burden of disease and caregiving responsibilities.
Environmental Factors:
- Climate change, water scarcity, and pollution disproportionately impact women due to their caregiving and subsistence roles.

III. Global Burden of Diseases Affecting Women

Major Health Issues	Global Trends	Key Statistics (WHO 2023)
Maternal Mortality	95% of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.	~287,000 maternal deaths annually worldwide.
Reproductive Health	218 million women have unmet needs for contraception.	Unsafe abortions cause 13% of maternal deaths.
Anemia & Malnutrition	High in Africa and South Asia.	1 in 3 women of reproductive age globally are anemic.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)	Increasing due to sedentary lifestyles.	Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.
Violence Against Women (VAW)	Global health and human rights crisis.	1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence.
Mental Health	Depression is 2x more common among women.	Women are more likely to develop anxiety and PTSD.

IV. Major Global Policies, Conventions, and Initiatives

1. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979

Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Often called the “International Bill of Rights for Women.”
Article 12 specifically ensures equal access to healthcare, including family planning services.

2. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 1995

Landmark global commitment adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, China).
Critical Area “C”: Women and Health includes:
- Eliminating discrimination in healthcare access.
- Promoting women’s sexual and reproductive rights.
- Reducing maternal mortality.
- Addressing mental health and gender-based violence.

3. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2015–2030

Adopted by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Key goals linked to women’s health:
- SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all (includes reducing maternal mortality and ensuring universal access to reproductive healthcare).
- SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls (addresses harmful practices and gender-based violence).

📊 Target 3.1: Reduce global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
📊 Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

4. WHO’s Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030)

Vision: “Every woman, child, and adolescent realizes their rights to physical and mental health and well-being.”
Focus areas:
- Survive: End preventable deaths.
- Thrive: Ensure health and well-being.
- Transform: Expand enabling environments for sustainable health.

5. ICPD Programme of Action (Cairo Conference, 1994)

Shifted focus from population control to reproductive health and rights.
Promoted access to family planning, safe motherhood, and prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS.

6. UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Initiatives

Works in over 150 countries for safe motherhood, family planning, and reproductive rights.
Key programmes:
- Safe Motherhood Initiative
- Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)

7. World Health Organization (WHO) Programs

WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) focuses on:
- Maternal and newborn health.
- Family planning and fertility care.
- Adolescent sexual health.
- Prevention of gender-based violence (GBV).

8. Global Fund for Women

Provides financial and advocacy support to local women’s organizations promoting health equity, reproductive rights, and ending violence.

V. Regional and Country-Level Examples

Africa:
- African Union’s Maputo Protocol (2003) promotes reproductive rights and prohibits FGM.
- High maternal mortality due to weak healthcare systems.
South Asia:
- India, Bangladesh, and Nepal have adopted large-scale maternal health missions (e.g., Janani Suraksha Yojana, Safe Motherhood Program).
- Persistent issues: anemia, malnutrition, early marriage.
Europe and North America:
- Focus on breast and cervical cancer screening, mental health, and gender-based violence prevention.
- Debates on reproductive rights (e.g., abortion laws in the U.S. and Poland).
Latin America:
- High rates of unsafe abortion and gender-based violence.
- Expanding access to reproductive healthcare and social protection programs.

VI. Global Challenges in Women’s Health

Unequal Access to Healthcare:
- 150 million women globally lack access to basic reproductive services.
Gender-Based Violence:
- Recognized by WHO as a global health crisis with severe mental and physical outcomes.
Maternal Mortality Disparity:
- Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of all maternal deaths.
Mental Health Neglect:
- Underdiagnosed and underfunded globally, particularly in low-income countries.
Political Instability and Conflict:
- War zones (e.g., Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine) see collapse of maternal and reproductive health services.
Climate Change and Health Migration:
- Women are disproportionately affected by environmental health risks and displacement.

VII. Way Forward: Global Recommendations

Gender-Responsive Health Systems: Integrate gender perspectives in all health policies.
Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Ensure affordability and accessibility of services for women.
Education and Empowerment: Promote literacy and digital health awareness among women.
Investment in Reproductive Health: Expand funding for contraception, safe abortion, and maternity care.
Partnerships: Strengthen collaborations between UN agencies, NGOs, and governments.
Data & Research: Improve gender-disaggregated data collection to design evidence-based policies.

VIII. Conclusion

Women’s health is a global human rights and development priority.
Despite significant international progress through CEDAW, SDGs, and WHO initiatives, deep disparities persist between developed and developing regions. Sustainable improvement demands a holistic approach — integrating health, gender equality, education, and economic empowerment.

As global leaders emphasize:

“No woman should die giving life, and no girl should be denied the right to health and dignity.”

NEP Political Science Class Notes

M.A.3rd Sem, KU-Women's Studies, Paper-4, Unit-IV (A Global Perspective on Women Health) Class Notes