Women are more vulnerable to ill health in Africa. Low income and social status, lack of education and traditional gender roles and responsibilities are key contributing factors.
For example, three quarters of the population living with HIV in Africa between the age of 15-24 are women. Women are biologically more vulnerable to HIV, but the key factors behind this disparity are social and economic. Financial circumstances can force women into selling themselves for sex and too many of those who are in relationships or married are not in a position to demand faithfulness or safe sex.
Maternal death rates in Africa are particularly high because of the lack of skilled midwives, obstructed labour, unsafe abortions, anaemia and malaria. 1 in 16 women dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth compared to just 1 in 4,000 in industrialised countries.
| Pregnant women in Africa are particularly vulnerable to malaria. Their immunity is low, and they often do not have the knowledge or the means of prevention. |
Obstructed labour is a particular problem for young women giving birth whose bodies are not sufficiently developed. Some African countries have the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the world – 40 % of girls have given birth before they are 14.
Violence against women is also a key concern in Africa, especially in South Africa, which has the highest incidence in the world among countries not at war.
AMREF’s work with women
AMREF promotes reproductive rights, including those that help women to make informed choices about family planning. In Tanzania, we are empowering women to recognise their reproductive rights and encouraging them to discuss this openly with their spouses.
We are also promoting access to and use of reproductive health services, including obstetric care, family planning, and management of pregnancy complications. In Uganda we are encouraging commercial sex workers to practice safe sex and providing them with an alternative means of earning a living through training courses in tailoring, hairdressing and business skills.
Southern Sudan has the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Less than 20 midwives serve a population of approximately 10 million people. To tackle this urgent need, AMREF is training community midwives from around the region.
In all of our programmes dealing with malaria we encourage pregnant women to take preventive measures against the disease. In Afar in Ethiopia we are training 300 mother co-ordinators to ensure that pregnant women in their communities are protecting themselves.
In South Africa we are raising awareness about violence against women, helping women to access the relevant services and working with the authorities to better protect women through improved laws and policies.
Projects and stories
- Jijenge Reproductive Rights Project, Tanzania
- Serengeti Women and HIV/AIDS, Tanzania
- National Fistula Program, Tanzania
- Kawempe Commercial Sex Workers, Uganda
- Training Midwives, Southern Sudan
- Violence Against Women, South Africa
- Putting African Mothers and Children First in Kenya,Tanzania and Southern Sudan
