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TitleTrachoma : a women's health issue
Publication TypeBook
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsWolfson, EM, Fedewa, L, Young, SA
Editionrev.ed.
Pagination27 p.. : boxes, photogr.
Date Published1999-01-01
PublisherGlobal Alliance for Women's Health
Place PublishedNew York, NY, USA
ISSN Number0970690460
Keywordsdisease control, economic aspects, health education, health hazards, safe water supply, sanitation, sdigen, sdihyg, social aspects, trachoma, women
Abstract

While it appears that women and girls are not biologically predisposed to trachoma, the prevalence rates support the concept of trachoma as a women’s health issue. All of the parameters - the etiology, the course of the disease, and the medical / surgical, pharmacological and environmental interventions are either driven or constrained by issues of gender. Millions of women in the trachoma endemic parts of the world suffer disproportionately from this disease because, according to the evidence, their gender-determined roles as unwaged, poorly educated, child caregivers with subordinate decision-making roles in their households and in society, put them at greater risk. Trachomatous blindness most frequently occurs in women in mid-life or beyond. It is preventable and treatable, especially with community involvement in health promotion and health education. It is therefore important to develop strategies and interventions that will bring relief to the millions of women who are either needlessly blinded or at risk of being blinded. Global elimination of trachoma is possible. It requires health promotion and education, political will and effective resource allocation to implement effective interventions throughout the world.

This paper examines trachoma and women's health by reviewing and addressing the trachoma literature from a women's health perspective; the burden of disease associated with trachoma; the social and economic implications of blindness for women; the relative importance of trachoma in women's health; and the various interventions for controlling trachoma and how they might link programmatically with programs and services in the trachoma-endemic world.
With substantial references.

Notes103 ref.
Custom 1245.2, 202.1

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