Mini Documentary

Global Health Research Documentary Critique​

In this documentary, my group focused on the barriers to healthcare faced by women in India. We were able to ask Dr. Madhivanan and Dr. Kirin from PHRII about this topic in particular and they expanded on the factors they believe prevent women from proper access to health care. Through this discussion, we hope to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by women in India and how to best address them. With our knowledgeable experts, we will explore how PHRII improves access and quality of healthcare for Indian women. By gaining insight into the unique challenges faced by women in India, we can better support their health and well-being.

 

Research on the health of Indian women intrinsically links it to their status in society. This research on women’s status has found that the contributions Indian women make to families often are overlooked, and instead, they are viewed as economic burdens. There is a strong son preference in India, as sons are expected to care for their parents as they age. This son preference and high dowry costs for daughters sometimes result in the mistreatment of daughters. Further, Indian women have low levels of education and formal labor force participation. They typically have little autonomy, living under the control of their fathers, then their husbands, and finally their sons. All of these factors exert a negative impact on the health status of Indian women. Poor health has repercussions not only for women but also for their families. Women in poor health are more likely to give birth to low-weight infants. They also are less likely to be able to provide food and adequate care for their children. Finally, a woman’s health affects the household's economic well-being, as a woman in poor health will be less productive in the labor force.