An Inequality Beyond Wealth: Gaps in Women ’s Health

A mother and her child from West Point, a low-income neighbourhood of Monrovia, Liberia. The 10-worst countries to be a mother in are all in sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: IPSBy Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Oct 18 2017 (IPS)While many often focus on wealth disparities, economic inequality is often a symptom and cause of other inequalities including women’s access to sexual and reproductive health. In a new report, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) explores the persistent, if not widening, inequalities in sexual and reproductive health around the world, holding back women and girls from a productive and prosperous future.“It’s not just about money,” Editor of UNFPA’s report Richard Kollodge told IPS.“Economic inequality reinforces sexual and reproductive health inequality and vice versa,” he continued.Despite its recognition as a right, access to sexual and reproductive health is far from universally realized and it is the poorest, less educated, and rural women that continue to bear the brunt of such inequalities.Globally, women and girls in the poorest 20 percent of households have little or no access to contraception and skilled birth attendants, leading to more unintended pregnancies and higher risk of illness or death from pregnancy or child birth.In the developing world, 43 percent of pregnancies are unplanned and this is more prevalent among rural, poor, and less educated women.These inequalities are particularly prevalent in West and Central Africa.In C...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Africa Aid Development & Aid Economy & Trade Education Gender Global Headlines Health Human Rights Inequity TerraViva United Nations Women's Health Source Type: news