ABSTRACT
<b><big>Objectives</big></b><br>The Constitution of Pakistan offer guarantees regarding women s rights, but unfortunately some laws and also customs violate the above commitments seriously affecting the health of women and even endangering their lives. The purpose of the study is to describe various aspects of women s health in Pakistan vis- -vis human rights.<br><b><big>Methods</big></b><br>Review of available literature was undertaken. The scientific electronic database (such as PubMed, Science-Direct & Pakistani database) was searched for women health issues in Pakistan, covering a period from 1980s to present. Published government reports have also been included as sources of information for this paper.<br><b><big>Results</big></b><br>In Asia, Pakistan s, maternal mortality ratio is among the highest; more than half of the women are anemic. Access to health services is deprived whether be it economic, geographical or social. Majority of women are illiterate. Pakistan is among the countries with low gender indices and where female life span is less then men, and men outnumber women. Government spending on health and particularly women health is low compared to other countries.<br><b><big>Conclusion</big></b><br>Women s disproportionate poverty, low social status, gender imbalances, and inadequate maternal services at the community level play a significant role in contributing to maternal deaths. In view of the fact that given accessible, quality health services, many maternal deaths can be avoided, demonstrates maternal mortality is clearly an issue of human rights.<br>There is a strong need that health sector spending is increased, role of women health care providers in rural areas be expanded (such as LHW) and involvement of private and NGO sector to fill gaps in service delivery, be ensured. In order to meet the targets of MDGs, the gender dimensions of demographic and social change need to be stressed further in all policies and development plans, which may result in narrowing of gender disparities and improving women lives.
ABSTRACT
Reducing maternal mortality is a critical issue in Pakistan. Do public health care centers in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province [NWFP] comply with minimum UN recommendations for availability, use, and quality of basic and comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care [EmOC] as measured by UN process indicators? All public health facilities providing EmOC [n=50] in 30% of districts in NWFP province [n=8 districts] sampled randomly in September 2003 were included in a cross-sectional study. Data came from health facility records. Almost all indicators were below minimum recommended UN levels. The number of facilities providing basic EmOC services was much too low to be called providing comprehensive coverage. A low percentage of births took place in hospital and few women with complications reached EmOC facilities. Caesarean section was either underutilized or unavailable. The case fatality rate was low, perhaps due to poor record-keeping. The findings of this first needs assessment in NWFP province can serve as a benchmark for monitoring future progress. In resource-poor countries like Pakistan, it is important to upgrade existing facilities, giving special emphasis to facilities that provide basic EmOC services, since many problems can be resolved at the most basic level. Health policy makers and planners need to take immediate, appropriate rectifying measures to, inter alia, improve staffing in rural areas, enhance staff skills through training, upgrade management and supervision, ensure medical supply availability, mandate proper record-keeping, and observe progress by monitoring process indicators regularly