Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Anwer Aqil, MD, MPH, DrPH, John Snow Inc., 1616 N. Fort Myer Drive, 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209, 703-528-7474, anwer_aqil@jsi.com and Rushna Ravji, MD, MPH, MS, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, USAID, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington DC, DC 20523.

When the President of Pakistan says in public that women get raped to get immigration, when women are murdered in name of honor killing, when women are considered half in the eyes of so-called Islamic laws of 1979, when women are not allowed to get married without permission from elders, when elected representatives hesitate to change laws that make women and minorities second citizens, it is very unlikely to overlook the relationship between health and human rights. Forty percent of the 150 millions population live in poverty. Women bear the major burden and are segregated from public life. Women comprise only 8% of the labor force. Literacy rate for women is 32% as compared to 58% for men. Life expectancy at birth for female is five years less than males. One third of the pregnant women are malnourished and anemic. Maternal mortality is 700 per hundred thousand live births. Access to health services is hindered by decision-making by men. Method: The data comes from various surveys; government statistics and records, news media and human rights watch groups. Policy Implications: The struggle to provide universal health coverage not limited to public health profession. Social and political determinants of health need to be addressed through a broad coalition of progressive forces for advocacy, development of policies, laws and positive social norms which enable women, minorities to become part of the mainstream, having better access to quality social and health services. Global implications for Islamic countries will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• *Assess linkages among women segregation, Islam, health and human rights in Pakistan
• *Discuss strategies to change the women status, and access to quality social and health services

Keywords: Women's Health, International Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation