Uneducated and unhealthy: the plight of women in Pakistan.

Abstract

A general case can be made that Pakistani women, particularly in rural areas, have been culturally assigned with low priorities for female education and with social rewards in reproduction and domestic activities. Female mortality is high, and there is a lack of access to medical facilities. Female literacy was 21.30% in 1991-92, and male literacy was 45.50%. There are only 30,200 primary schools and 3300 middle schools for girls compared to 85,400 and 5200 for boys. Approximately 33% of mortality among women aged 15-49 years is related to maternal causes. In a sample village in Rawalpindi, 50 km from Islamabad, there are no medical facilities. The nearest health unit is 3 km away and lacks any trained birth attendants. Two local women without formal training handle childbirth. Cultural restrictions prevent better knowledge about proper hygiene and sanitation. The required female tasks of cleaning animal pens puts women at higher risk of health problems and tetanus. Mud stoves and use of fuel wood in unventilated spaces exposes women to respiratory diseases. Home remedies and local perceptions of illness can cause harm. Evil spirits are considered as precipitating causes of illness. Women are excluded from monetary transactions in markets for the goods they produce. Education for girls is thought to "spoil" and distract from attention to household tasks. There is no value placed on girls attaining more than a primary education. An example in one household was given to show the impact of lack of education and mistreatment of hearing loss for one girl. The mother fed her sons well, but gave her daughter and herself only "roti" with tea. The justification was that men work harder. The cycle of poor education and lack of knowledge continues to be perpetuated.