Role of gender in health disparity: the South Asian context

摘要

The life advantage for girls and women that characterises the health statistics of industrialised countries is blurred in South Asia. Gender discrimination at each stage of the female life cycle contributes to health disparity, sex selective abortions, neglect of girl children, reproductive mortality, and poor access to health care for girls and women. The violation of fundamental human rights, and especially reproductive rights of women, plays an important part in perpetuating gender inequity. Policy makers, programme managers, health professionals, and human rights workers in South Asia need to be aware of and responsive to the detrimental health effects that gender plays throughout the life cycle.