Of human rights and women's health
Shiva, M.
Health for the Millions 17(3): 34-36
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-8685 PMID: 12343415 Document Number: 316110
The deeply rooted gender bias in India can be easily seen in the field of health care, as the society condones many forms of violence against women. Discrimination against women begins at birth, when baby girls are general breastfed last and least. Conditioning women to feel inferior, society attacks women's psyche. In a subordinate position, women usually forgo medical treatment in times of illness, and even if they do seek treatment, it is often not available. As one study indicated, 92% of the women in one community suffered for some form of gynecologic disease, yet the country does not have adequate diagnostic facilities or the drugs used for gynecologic needs. Even childbirth facilities are not readily available, evident in that 70% of all births take place at home. Without a place to treat complications, the rate of maternal mortality is high. And while poor women often suffer from the lack of basic services, rich women suffer from needless surgeries, such as unnecessary caesarian sections and hysterectomies, which end up costing the lives of many women. Unsafe surgeries also take many women's lives; unsafe abortions account for 20% of India's maternal deaths. Women undergo most sterilizations, even though vasectomies are easier to perform and have less complications. Additionally, the use of long acting injectable hormonal contraceptives (Depo Provera, Net En, and NORPLANT) should be treated with apprehension. Their long-term consequences are not yet known, and one only need to remember cases of Thalidomide and Diethyl Stibaestrol to realize that the new hormones could have disastrous consequences for women. And with the use of Amniocentesis which is sometimes followed by female feticide), gender discrimination now begins even before birth.