Women’s Health in Azerbaijan

Women’s Health in Azerbaijan

 Reported, January 12, 2012

Health is universally valued, and women’s health assumes ever greater importance in the context of society’s appreciation for its future. In Azerbaijan traditional methods of medicinal treatment, using various herbs and other natural means, have long existed. These methods in combination with the traditional norms of nutrition were believed to promote long life, which has not been a rare phenomenon in the Caucasus and particularly in Azerbaijan. However, within the hierarchy of national values, health does not occupy a high place. Radical changes in economic and social spheres in the country and the military conflict have seriously affected the health of citizens.

Average life expectancy was reduced to 68.5 years in 1995, while in 1990 it was 71.1 years. The life expectancy of women is 73.5 yearsóthat is, 10 years more than the life expectancy of men (63.5 years). However, the maternal mortality rate is 37 per 100,000 live births. This rate is significantly higher than it was in the 1980s. The number of women’s consultation offices, children’s polyclinics and dispensaries has decreased in recent yearsó reaching 943 in 1995. The number of maternity hospitals, however, have increased. According to preliminary data, the numbers of tuberculosis, malaria and diphtheria cases have increased. This can be explained by the worsening state of the environment, by poor prophylaxis and sanitary condition and by the decline in living standards.

Women in the Health Sector in Azerbaijan

Women’s position in the health sector is better than in other sectors. Women constitute 72% of the number of people working in this sector. The percentage of women occupying leading posts is also considerably high. Women make up about 35% of the total number of hospital and polyclinic managers in the urban and rural areas of the Republic. Women are 90.3% of middle medical staff. Medical education has the following levels: secondary-special, higher, postgraduate, and doctorate. Women prefer to obtain medical education. The considerable scientific and medical potential of the country allows it to involve local experts for the implementation of international programs and projects. There are number of programmes which are expected to continue until the year 2,000: the programme on Family Planning, on the Struggle against Tuberculosis, on Diabetes, on Non-Infectious Diseases (hypertension, etc.), on Immunization (dyphteria, tuberculosis and others) and the programme on Mental Health. The Program on Reproductive Health and Family Planning, supported by the World Health Organisation and the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), was adopted in March, 1996. Established in 1996, the Center on “Family and Health” is functioning well, with an important program for gathering health statistics.

Health Protection in new conditions

The right of citizens in Azerbaijan to lead healthy lives regardless of sex, which was guaranteed by the Constitution of 1995, cannot be realised fully. During the Soviet period, citizens had access to free medical services. The current transition period has brought fundamental changes in the health sector and the previous system has been eliminated. However, paid medical services and medical insurance are also not available for the population since the majority are too poor to access them. The low value placed on health in ethnic consciousness is also another factor. Still, medical-service expenses of the population have increased (mainly on medicines). According to surveys, sociological data and other sources, the World Bank indicates that the majority of people pay for all kinds of medicines and services and that private finances for medical services in 1995 exceeded state expenses by a factor of four.

The high cost of medical services limit the access of the population to the health care system. About 50% of the population do not use medical advice in cases of sickness or health problems. And 55% of those who paid for medical help borrowed money or sold some of their personal belongings to cover the financial costs. Patients who seek medical advice tend to do so at later stages of their sickness and they are dismissed from the hospital too soon. This situation is worse in the case of child birth. When a woman is not able to pay for hospital care, she gives birth at home under conditions which are not sanitary or safe. Even if a woman goes to the hospital, most of the time she cannot afford to stay there long enough to receive adequate treatment. This increases the chances of developing ill-effects during her postnatal period and the chances of the newborn child having health problems. The health care sector is one of the sectors which has suffered most from the military conflict: 315 medical institutions (hospitals and polyclinics) were destroyed, for example. The ensuing settlement of refugees and IDPs in tent camps and in other settlements not appropriate for human accommodation impedes the efforts to adopt adequate health measures and carry on medical prophylaxis.

Credits:Ulviya T. Mikailova

More information at:http://www.cddc.vt.edu/feminism/aze2.html