Safe womanhood is not safe motherhood: policy implications
Meleis, A.Ibrahim.
Health Care for Women International 26(6): 464-471
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 16020014 DOI: 10.1080/07399330590962825Document Number: 271974
The world continues to be unsafe for girls and women. Although natural disasters and man-made disasters make the world unsafe for all people, the gender divide further compromises safety of women. In addition to being at higher risk for violence, rape, trafficking, and abuse, women's injury and mortality increase because of the limited definition of the nature and type of work they do, the conditions that expose them to such infections as HIV/AIDS, the pregnancy and birthing cycles, as well as unsafe abortions, and because of the inadequacy and inaccessibility of health services. To enhance safe womanhood, not just safe motherhood for women, several urgent actions are outlined in this article.