title: Women's empowerment and health: the role of institutions of power in Pakistan.
abstract: Women's right to health has been reiterated many times. However, there are social and cultural barriers in developing countries that hinder their empowerment. Women's low status, deprivation of education and lack of control over their own lives and bodies have a negative impact on their health status and that of their families. This paper discusses women's empowerment and health within the framework of the 4 institutions of power in a society-family, community, health care systems and the state--with special reference to the situation in Pakistan. It concludes that to improve women's health status, concerted efforts are needed by all these institutions of power to work towards gender equality and the greater empowerment of women.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Division, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Shaikh
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D035082:Federal Government; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012945:Social Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*