Women's health, changes and challenges in health policy development in Lithuania.
Health is a sensitive mirror of social circumstances. This paper looks at the situation of women's health in Lithuania in the context of the social, political and economic transition in the country following independence in 1990, and reforms to the health system. Data since 1990 show that considerable social and demographic inequalities in the health of women exist in Lithuania, with low-educated women and those living in rural areas in the most unfavourable situation, including in relation to reproductive health. Reproductive health issues have received some recognition in recent years, with the main attention and resources directed to the development of a Maternal and Child Health Programme, especially perinatal care and the organisation of neonatology services, which has resulted in a notable decrease in maternal, perinatal and infant mortality. Services for family planning, abortion, infertility, cervical and breast cancer, and violence against women are under-developed. Non-governmental organizations are beginning to be formed to advocate for increased resources and services for reproductive health. Improvements in the health status of Lithuanian women can be expected if attention is paid to social determinants of health.
Kalediene
Ramune
R
Faculty of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania. kaleda@kaunas.omnitel.net
Nadisauskiene
Ruta
R
D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006285:Health Planning; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008097:Lithuania; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012940:Social Problems; D016387:Women's Health