Womankind.ppt

petersims@upng.ac.pg Womankind A problem which does not go away “Marital breakdown is the most important disease in our society” An Epidemiological Approach Peter Sims Professor of Public Health Medicine The School of Medicine University of Papua New Guinea BOROKO Papua New Guinea Women are often Poor Poverty means Lack of Resources Lack of Education Lack of Opportunity Lack of Power Women are Persecuted Discrimination by Religion Race Culture Politics Occupation Men versus Women Some facts about Boys in PNG More boy babies die in the first year of life Boys are more likely to be immunized Boys are less likely to be malnourished Boys are more likely to be taken for health care when they are ill Problems for Women in PNG Rape Sexual slavery Polygamy Unwanted fertility Multiple childbirth Illegal Abortion Venereal disease Maternal mortality Maternal morbidity Cervical cancer The burden of fertility Contraceptive Use by 26% of the population Average fertility 1960 - 6.3, 1990 - 5.1, 1999 - 4.4 Under five mortality 122/1,000 The woman devotes her life to child bearing and child rearing often in very difficult conditions. She will experience 6 or more pregnancies, two of her children will die before they are five years old Women without Power A slave A chattel A Possession or An equal A Partner A sharer Some well known facts More boy babies than girl babies are born -boys die at a faster rate Women have a greater life expectancy than men Men and women are equally able and intelligent The Differences Men are physically stronger than women Women use more Right brain skills, aesthetic, emotional Men use more Left brain skills, logical, deductive Some vital Statistics in PNG Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live When women are denied education and career then they become sexual chattel