Tropical parasitic diseases and women

Abstract

Tropical parasitic diseases constitute the greatest threat to the health and socio -economic status of women as a gender and social group. There are some gender specific ways in which parasitic diseases affect women in contrast to men due to differences in exposure, occupational risk, sociocultural behavior, gender roles and practices. These parasitic diseases confer some social stigma, which affects the health seeking behavior of women. Women are therefore important in the control of these parasitic diseases and they are key agents of change, if they are included in community control programs. Women need more attention in endemic areas as a group that had been neglected. This deprived and excluded group have got vital role to play, as discussed in this review. Key words: Tropical parasitic diseases, women, Africa, sociocultural RésuméLes maladies parasitoses tropicales constituent une tres grande menace pour la santee. Un probleme socio economique aux femmes comme un genre et en tant qu'un groupe. Ils ya des manieres specifiques par les quelles ces maladies attaquent les femmes contrairement aux hommes a cause de la facon differente d'exposition, occupation, reagisment culture et social Cette maladie entraine une honte sociale et nuire la santee des femmes. Les femmes sont donc tres importantes, et meme des elements cles a conbatttre cette maladie si l'on les incure dans programmes de la commisnaute. En tant au qu'un groupe exclusif et negligee les femmes ont besoin de beaucoup d'attention puis quelles ont un role importante a jouer dans ce contexte.

Social and Economic Burden of Human Leishmaniasis

“…13 In addition, men are usually engaged in productive labor (i.e., income-generating labor performed outside the home), whereas women are often involved in unpaid reproductive labor (i.e., work done within the home such as cooking, care of children and livestock, and gardening/farming). 15,16 As a result, many women lack the financial resources for travel, clinical care, and drugs and most times will not be willing to spend the limited cash resources on their health needs.…”

“…Young women who have disfiguring scars as a result of CL infection suffer social stigmatization and are usually unable to marry. 13 Older married women suffer rejection from their husbands/partners who are afraid of contracting the diseases from them.…”

“…12 The consequences of delay in seeking medical help include reduced quality of life and the development of chronic lesions. 13 …”

A re‐evaluation of the framework for the protection of patents, women’s health in Nigeria and the issue of accessing pharmaceutical innovation in Africa: Designing strategies for medicines

“…These inequalities sometimes relate to issues of control in decision‐making on where and how to access healthcare. At the household level, men and women tend to perform different roles in the provision of healthcare and control of resources (Ezeah & Achonwa, , p. 46; Okwa, , p. 157). Women, notably those in the rural areas, are traditionally care providers, whereas men are more often the financial decision makers on issues of healthcare.…”

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“…When children are sick from malaria, women usually bear the psychological effects. Severe convulsions, fever and other symptoms affecting children leave a psychological effect of fear and restlessness on the mothers [14].…”