Gender Issues and their Impact on Health and Health Care Use

Larry Sthreshley

Women’s decision making role

• Only 45% can make a decision on their health care

• 50% on household purchases

• 10% have no decision power

Water: “Women’s work” • Only 3% have easy

access to clean water • 30% have to go more

than 30 minutes for water

• More than 80% of water is contaminated

Women often assume the role of a

pack animal

Young girls given responsibility at

young age

• 21% malnourished • 39% stunted

84% of women think it is justified for their husbands

to beat them

Not uncommon to have first child at 14

• Health care for 9.3 million

• 52 hospitals • 878 health

centers

Cut average health care

costs for women by two thirds

Building 200 Health Centers

Family Planning

Q2Y1 Q3Y1 Q4Y1 Q1Y2 Q2Y2 Q3Y2 Q4Y2 Quartely Results 23,352 19,499 28,763 32,287 38,599 48,046 50,736 Quartely Targets 31,791 31,791 31,791 40,919 40919 40,919 40,919Coverage Trend 5% 4% 6% 7% 8% 10% 10%

0%

10%

20%

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

Number of New Acceptors for Modern Family Planning Methods (KPI)

WASH Activities Cisterns: 12,000 Liter & 250 Liter Lifestraw Filters

Developing a Clean Cook Stove for Congo

Nutrition and Gardening messaging through home visits

Church addressing gender issues and sexual violence

• Free medical services and psychosocial counselling for survivors of SGBV

• Free surgery for vaginal fistula repair

Still a Long Way to Go