adopting a feminist approach to healthcare
To a large percent of the population, feminism is equivalent to matriarchy and opposite to patriarchy. However, CNS founder Shobha Shukla helped to point out that the opposite of patriarchy is rather solidarity, sensitivity and power-sharing. These three pillars form the basis of a feminist approach. She also believes that to ensure a feminist approach, social and economic inequalities must end.
Let us again consider the case of TB in India to understand this. Between a quarter and a third of the world's population are estimated to be infected with latent TB. According to the WHO, on average, 5-10% of those who are infected with latent TB, will develop active TB disease over their lifetime. Every new case of latent TB infection is a sign of failing infection control. But government's programme to end TB is largely focused on diagnosing and treating active TB disease, with little attention to latent TB 'pool'. Factors such as malnutrition, diabetes, HIV, anemia or other conditions that lower our immunity, are likely to increase the risk of conversion of latent TB into active disease.
What does this mean? It means that certain demographic classes who face higher levels of social and economic inequality will have higher likelihood of contracting active TB. Because "reactivated" TB is contagious, eradicating latent infection is a cornerstone of global TB control.
Hence, to provide equitable healthcare, all such issues must be addressed simultaneously - for instance, we cannot end TB unless we end malnutrition - the biggest risk factor for TB disease.
Generally speaking, woman's role in Indian society is still one of a primary caregiver and hence they have low workforce participation (~20% for India as compared to ~60% in Thailand (Thailand: Female labor force participatio, 2020), (Women in the Workforce - India: Quick Take, 2020)). Females in India have been shown to exhibit poor health-seeking behavior i.e. they only seek help when responsibilities are unable to be carried (Rahul Katiyar, 2018). Conversations which focus on women's rights, entitlements, and privileges rather than mere responsibilities might prove helpful.
Shobha Shukla further brought in her personal experiences of how she witnessed many a woman thrown out of her house for contracting TB, whereas a man in the same household was accepted and cared for. Women have also shown higher percentages of completion of TB treatment (Partnership, 2018). By empowering women caregivers, we can further the overall healthcare levels since women will be better equipped to take care of their family members and encourage them to be mutually responsible.
Although several male policy makers are adopting women-friendly approaches, the need to have women decision-makers in these policy bodies doesn't reduce. Men often have difficulty in understanding women's day-to-day challenges. Shobha Shukla provided an example of how when distributing menstrual pads for women, men failed to understand that a typical type of underwear would be required for the scheme to fully work. This type of instance also stems from a lack of awareness and discussion around female sexuality. Bobby further reflected on this from his time in Thailand - Thailand's office culture was expressive and open about female menstruation and breastfeeding on the premises was not taboo. This empowered the women employees to carry out their office tasks with dignity while staying true to themselves.
role of media and effective communication with the masses
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