Health-related quality of life: The neglected facet of women's health in India

ABSTRACT

Quality of life (QoL) is a multidimensional concept and an essential health component that usually includes both positive and negative aspects of life. The measure of health-related QoL (HRQOL) enables health agencies and social partners to address areas of public health importance and formulate policies which eventually demonstrate the impact of health on QoL. Women form an important pillar of society as they are the primary caretaker of children and elders in every country of the world and therefore, the QoL of women determines the health of the next generation and future public health challenges for families, communities, and the health-care system. Providing health services at par with quality is the need of the hour and a very important health goal considering women's health. Poor delivery of clinical care, failure to meet the professional standards of patient care by health-care providers, mistreatment and abuse by health-care professionals, and inequitable delivery of care are some of the key issues in the delivery of quality maternal health-care services in India and therefore primary health-care professionals should be made familiar with the concept of the HRQoL in the community they are serving. Indian health-care systems need to address to the inequalities and taking off the consumer-centric, market approach of privately run corporate health facilities along with setting up of accountability of all the stakeholders to provide quality care, especially in the government-run facilities and creating a promising environment in health care for women focusing on pregnant and postpartum mothers.