Reproductive Health and Gender Equality: Method, Measurement, and Implications

Description

Since the late 1990s approaches to women's reproductive health has shifted from a service-based model to a human rights approach. This approach associates reproductive health with freedom from discrimination and enjoyment of a satisfying and safe sex life, and full access to information and services related to reproduction. In spite of this shift, and the global effort to promote women's reproductive health through the enhancement of human rights and gender equality, progress has been very slow. In this book the author fills a much-needed empirical study of women's reproductive health. The author assesses data from 137 developing countries (or areas) and challenges the prevailing bioscience and public health models by linking women's reproductive health to gender equality measures and development policies. Discussion on abortion rights, regional variations and reproductive health needs among refugees and internally displaced persons are also discussed. This is a timely study which provides a theoretical and social policy basis for monitoring and improving women's reproductive health in developing countries. This is particularly important in the light of insufficient research in the field and a lack of analysis on the empirical and theoretical linkages between reproductive health and gender equality. The book will be of interest to researchers, professionals and students interested in women's health issues, gender/women's studies and human rights. Cover Half Title Dedication Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Acronyms and Abbreviations Preface Acknowledgements 1 Overview 1.1 Introduction 1.2 What is Women’s Reproductive Health? 1.3 Theoretical Perspectives 2 Theoretical Explanations of the Proposed Model 2.1 Women’s Human Rights and Reproductive Health 2.2 Gender Equality and Women’s Reproductive Health 2.3 Maternal-Child Health Care and Women’s Reproductive Health 2.4 Economic Development and Gender Equality 2.5 Political Development and Gender Equality 2.6 Economic Development and Women’s Human Rights 2.7 Political Development and Women’s Human Rights 2.8 Economic Development and Maternal-Child Care 2.9 Political Development and Maternal-Child Care 3 Measurement of the Variables 3.1 Indicators and Scales of Women’s Reproductive Health 3.2 Indicators of Exogenous Variables 3.3 Data Sources 4 Findings and Analysis 4.1 Descriptive Statistics 4.2 Measurement Model 4.3 Structural Model 4.4 Alternative Model 5 Regional Variations 5.1 Regional Variations in Women’s Reproductive Health Indicators 5.2 Cluster Analysis 5.3 OLS Estimates of Regional Variations 5.4 The sub-Saharan Africa Dilemma 6 Discussion and Implications 6.1 Enhancing Gender Equality Approach to Women’s Reproductive Health 6.2 Engendering Social Policies in Light of Women’s Reproductive Health 6.3 Limitations of the Study 6.4 Summary Appendix A Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Targets, and Indicators Appendix B Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, 26 August 1789 Appendix C Chronology of International Conferences on Gender Equality, Women’s Rights Appendix D Women’s Human Rights and Reproductive Rights Appendix E Developing Countries in Regional Aggregates Appendix F Reproductive Health among Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons List of Selected Websites Appendix G Global Gag Rule Timeline Appendix H President Obama’s Memorandum (January 23, 2009) Appendix I List of Selected Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) Women’s Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights Appendix J Countries in Major World Aggregates Appendix K Countries or Areas in Income Aggregates Bibliography Index